PLANTATIC 


ENS  HENDERSON 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


Plantation  Echoes 


A  COLLECTION  of  ORIGINAL 
NEGRO   DIALECT   POEMS 


<By 

ELLIOTT  ELAINE  HENDERSON 


SECOND    EDITION 


COLUMBUS,  OHIO 

PRESS  OF  F.  J.  HEER 

1905 


Kntered  According  to  Act  of  Congress 
in   the  year  1904 

BY  E.  B.  HENDERSON 

In  the   office  of  the   Librarian   of   Congress 
at  Washington 


DeDication 

THIS    BOOK    IS    RESPECTFULLY 
DEDICATED    TO 

MESSERS. 

HOWARD    BURBA 

L.   WALTER   HARRISON 

DR.    WASHINGTON   GLADDEN 

PROF.    L.    M.    LAYTON 

T.  j.  MCCORMICK 

WILLIAM   Y.    MAHAR 

PROF.    JOHN   WEAVER 

(Ex-Supt.  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  Schools) 

WILLIAM   HAWLEY   SMITH 

(Noted  Author  and  Critic) 

HAROLD  MCCREA 

(City  Editor  Morning  Sun,  Springfield,  O.) 

FRED   WALLACE 

Editor  Morning  Sun,  Springfield,  O.) 

OSMAN    C.    HOOPER 
(Literary  Editor  of  the  Columbus  Dispatch) 

J.    EDWARD  SIMMS 

Of  the  Enquirer  Bureau,  Columbus,  O.) 

DR.    C.   O.    PROBST 

(State  Board  of  Health) 
JUDGE    TOD   B.    GALLOWAY 

DR.    E.    J.    WILSON 

(Columbus,  Ohio) 

J.   A.    KUSTER 

(Editor  of  the  Catholic  Columbian) 
E.    O.    RANDALL 

(Supreme  Court  Reporter) 


DR.  WASHINGTON  GLADDEN'S 
COMMENT 

FIRST   CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH 


Columbus,  Ohio,  7905. 

Mr.  Henderson's  little  book  of  verses, 
"Plantation  Echoes,"  is  a  meritorious  at- 
tempt to  give  logical  exprsssion  to  our 
common  human  feelings.  He  deals,  I  should 
think,  quite  successfully  with  negro  dialect, 
and  his  verses  are  musical  and  sometimes 
quaintly  humorous,  while  the  sentiment  is 
sonund  and  wholesome.  I  take  pleasure  in 
commending  the  volume. 

WASHINGTON  GLADDEN. 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE  music  of  the   American  negro,  the  fresh  and  spon- 
taneous expression  of  a  good  and  care-free  heart,  has 
long  been  one  of  the  most  pleasing  features  of  Ameri- 
can life.     It  is  human  nature  in  its  first  vocal  garb  —  original 
and  unique,  often  humorous  and  always  true  to  the  sentiment 
of  the  singer.    'If  there  ever  was  an  illustration  of  the  close 
relationship  between  language  and  thought,  it  is  this. 

What  is  true  of  the  melodies  of  the  negro  as  developed 
in  the  simple  existence  on  the  plantation  is  also  true  of  that 
other  form  of  singing,  verse-making.  Among  the  negroes 
there  have  sprung  up  a  number  of  exponents  of  the  wisdom, 
wit  and  humor  of  the-  race.  They  have  caught  the  spirit  of 
others  —  the  humble  philosophers  of  their  kind  —  and  they 
have  employed  the  dialect  to  reproduce  the  thought  in  all  its 
quaintness  and  originality.  One  of  the  most  notable  of  these 
exponents  or  interpreters  is  an  Ohio  negro,  Paul  Lawrence 
Dunbar,  who  has  taken  high  rank  among  the  poets  of  the  day. 
Another  is  Elliott  Elaine  Henderson,  also  a  son  of  Ohio,  whose 
first  volume  of  verse  is  herewith  presented. 

In  much  that  Mr.  Henderson  here  presents,  there  is  the 
rush  of  expression  and  the  jingle  of  words  that  are  so  char- 
acteristic of  the  negro.  There  is  also  humor  and  there  is 
sentiment,  and  always  that  other  quality  which  makes  verse 
in  these_  days  readable  —  good  cheer. 

He  who  correctly  interprets  the  spirit  of  his  race  serves  a 
good  cause,  and  it  is  believed  that  Mr.  Henderson  will  be 
found  to  have  succeeded  in  his  undertaking  to  make  his  peoplo 
better  and  more  widely  understood. 

E.  G.  BURKHAM, 
Editor  of  the  Columbus  Dispatch,  Columbus,  Ohio. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

When  the  Moon  Hangs  Low 9 

Seems  Dey's  No  Place 10 

Good  Bye,  Honey,  Good  Bye 12 

"Whut  We  Gwine  To  Do 14 

Kaze  I  kno'  I  Kain't  Stop 16 

Dahky  Whut  Yo'  Doin? 18 

When  De  Fiah  Am  Kindlin  Hot 20 

Lammentation 22 

When  De  Summah's  Dun  Cum 23 

The  Coon's  Serenade 24 

Blissful  Anticipations .     .     ;:;   » -    .  25 

Pawson  Johnson  At  Dinner •  •   •  27 

Go  'Way,  Mah  Honey 28 

Brer  Possum  Declines 30 

I  Hain't  Foolin'  Honey 31 

Sleep-        33 

A  Profuse  Encomium 34 

Peepin'  Th'ew  De  Husk 35 

Axin'  Coon  Cum  Obeah 38 

Hustle-      ., 38 

Go  Sleep 40 

Kase  De  Sun  Am  Sinkin'     . 41 

Soft  Falls  The  Night 43 

Git  On  Board,  Chillun 44 

Uncle  Ned  An'  De  Mockin'  Bird 46 

Po'  Li'l  Rastus 48 

Sambo's  Rain   Philosophy 50 

Jes'  Keep  Er  Lookin'  Up 51 

Wished  I'd  Rode  Mah  Hoss 53 

Eggs!     Eggs!!     Eggs!!! 54 

(7) 


8  CONTENTS. 

PACE 

It  Am  De  Possum  Time 55 

Stick  To  Your  Race 57 

Memorial  Day 58 

Trussy's  Visit 60 

Is  Yo'  Lonesum,  Honey? 64 

Larn  To  He'p  Yo'se'f 64 

Courtin'  O'  De  Phone 66 

Lonesum  Valley  Christmas  Tree 68 

Yes,  Wees  Got  Er  Flag 72 

Hi,   Mistah   Dahky 75 

Dey's  Er  Col'  Wave  Breshin'  Nigh 77 

Force  Of  Words, 79 

I  Tol'  Yo'  So     . 80 

The  Passing  of  Night 82 

A  Tale  O'  Woe 83 

Lullaby 84 

The  Exstacy  of  Uncle  Joe 85 

Keep  Er  Coin' 87 

Climin'  Up  De   Hill 88 

Sistah  Ruffle 90 

The  Gallant  Blacks  of  San  Juan  Hill 93 


WHEN  THE  MOON   HANGS  LOW 

A  straying  chicken 

Lost  from  home 
Bewildered,  finds 

Itself  a-roam. 
And  innocently     . 

Stalks  the   ground, 
Not  dreaming 

That  a  coon's  around. 

As  evening's  shadows 

Gently  fall, 
The  chicken,  lonesome, 

Gives  a  call. 
A  coon  steals  out 

Soft  in  the  night, 
To   catch   him 

For  his  appetite. 

The  night  is  still! 

The  moon  is  low ! 
Not  e'en  a  zephyr 

Seems  to  blow. 
The  coon  with  sack 

Clutched  in  his  hand, 
Moves  silently 

Across  the  land. 
(9) 


IO  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

The  chicken  gives 

Another  squawk  ! 
The  coon  has  got  her 

Like  a  hawk. 
The  moon  now  breaks 

Forth  into  light, 
The  coon   and  chicken's 

Out  of  sight. 


SEEMS  DEY'S  NO  PLACE. 

Well  er  coon  kin  go  to  kollege 

Git  his  head  chucked  full  o'  knowledge, 

Till  he  knows  ez  much  ez  Solomon  de  wise. 

He  kin  study  an'  summize, 

Count  de  stars  up  in  de  skies, 

Seems  dey's  no  place 

Fo'  de  eddeekayted  coon. 

Tawk  erbout  yo'  eddeekayshun 

Gittin'  in  de  cullahd  nayshun, 

Gittin'  "lighten"  in  de  head  an'  sich  ez  dat, 

Yo'  kin  larn  sah,  till  yo'  hat 

On  yo'  head  woan'  fit  exzac', 

Seems  dey's  no  place 

Fo'  de  eddeekayted  coon. 

Eddeekayshun  am  all  right 

Ef  er  coon  kin  git  er  sight 

'Stead  o'  makin'  bread  an'  buttah  by  de  hoe, 

He  kood  entah  any  do' 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  1 1 

Whah  he's  qualified  to  go. 
Seems  dey's  no  place 
Fo'  de  eddeekayted  coon. 

He  doan'  allus  want  to  hoe, 

He  wood  like  er  little  sho, 

Fo'  to  git  er  little  sweetness  out  o'  life; 

He  has  had  er  worl'  o'  strife, 

Allus  struck  by  trouble's  knife. 

Seems  dey's  no  place 

Fo'  de  eddeekayted  coon. 

All  de  coons  kin  cut  dey  pranks 

Fo'  to  git  into  de  banks, 

Wid  de  white  fo'ks  fo'  to  handle  wid  dey  cash 

Dat  wood  sorter  spile  de  hash, 

Make  er  fraycus  an'  er  clash. 

Seems  dey's  no  place 

Fo'  de  eddeekayted  coon. 

All  de  coons  kin  go  to  Yale, 

Larn  Greek,  Latin,  by  de  bale, 

Larn  to  numbah  all  de  hyahs  up  in  dey  head ; 

Dey  may  read  dis  thing  wid  dread, 

Nufhv  else  kin  dey  be  said. 

Seems  dey's  no  place 

Fo'  de  eddeekayted  coon. 

Ez  I  saunter  'roun'  de  town, 

An'  I  skim  man  eyes  eroun', 

Whah  de  white  fo'ks  am  in  business  ebbry  where, 

Yo'  kain't  find  er  coon  in  dare 


12  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Wid  de  white  fo'ks  sellin'  ware. 
Seems  dey's  no  place 
Fo'  de  eddeekayted  coori. 

ji    jt    <* 
GOOD  BYE,  HONEY  — GOOD  BYE. 

Gwine  to  leeb  dis  dear  ol'  place. 

Good  bye,  honey ;    good  bye ! 
Time's  er  flyin',  I  mus'  make  has'e, 

Good  bye,  honey ;    good  bye ! 
Hate  to  go,  but  I  kain't  say  no, 
It  gives  mah  hea't  er  pang  o'  woe, 
Yo'  all's  mah  fren',  not  one's  mah  foe, 

Good  bye,  honey ;    good  bye ! 

Sistah  Jane,  an'  uncle  Joe? 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 
I  hope  we'll  see  us  all  sum  mo', 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 
We's   gittin'   ol',   we's  gittin'  gray, 
Ah  days  am  dun'  fo'  makin'  hay, 
Ah  steps  cum  slo'  we's  wastin'  'way, 

Good  bye,  honey  ;    good  bye  ! 

We's  had  good  times  on  dis  ol'  place, 

Good  bye,  honey ;    good  bye ! 
We's  frollic'd  in  de  possum  chase, 

Good  bye,  honey ;    good  bye ! 
We's  picked  de  cotton,  hoed  de  co'n, 
We's  picked  de  berries  spite  o'  thorns, 
We's  wocked  at  night,  we's  wocked  at  morn, 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Hain't  dat  Miss  Linndy,  obeah  dah? 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 
Sho'  it  am ;    well,  I  declah ! 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye!^ 
Cum  an'  shake  de  ol'  man's  han', 
Gwine  to  leeb  ol'  massa's  Ian' 
'Deed,  Miss  Linndy,  yo'  look  gran', 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 

Rastus?  little  Rastus,  chile, 
Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 

Look  ee  dah,  jes'  see  him  smile, 
Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 

Jes'  ez  natshul  ez  his  paw, 

De  bes'  chile  dat  I  ebbah  saw, 

Got  de  mannahs  ob  his  maw, 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 

•» 

Whah  is  Massa,  is  he  'roun'? 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 
Tears'  I  koch  his  footstep  soun', 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 
I  'fess  it's  hard  to  leeb  him  now, 
To  say  good  bye,  I  doan'  kno'  how, 
I'll  shake  his  han',  jes'  make  er  bow, 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 

Mockin'  bird  up  in  de  tree? 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 
Yo's  sung  er  manny  day  to  me. 

Good  bye,  honey;    good  bye! 


14  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Er  manny  day  dis  hea't  o'  mine 
Yo's  cheered  it  wid  yo'  song  divine, 
An'  made  de  sunlight  brighter  shine, 
Good  bye,  honey  ;    good  bye  ! 


WHAT  WE  GWINE  TO  DO? 

Well,  de  way  de  thing  am  lookin' 
To  ol'  Hezzeekyah  Yoon, 

Dis  kentry's  gittin'   wussah 
Fo'  de  po'  and  he'pless  coon. 

Dey  lynch  him  on  de  lef, 

An'  dey  lynch  him  on  de  right, 

Dey  cum  an'  git  er  niggah 
In  de  day  an'  in  de  night. 

Whut  we  gwine  to  do? 

Hain't  dey  no  whah  in  de  Ian'? 
Hain't  dey  fo'  de  niggah 

Not  er  kin'  an'  he'pin'  han'  ? 

Oh  de  niggah's  got  er  moighty 

Tuff  an'  thorny  road  to  tread  — 
Dey's  bullets,  clubs  an'  razzahs 

Allus  flyin'  at  his  head. 
It's  er  mer'kul  all  de  niggahs 

Haben'  suffer'd  dat  same  fate, 
De  string  up  to  de  lamp-pos' 

An'  de  string  up  to  de  gate. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  1 5 

Ah  tell  yo'  whut's  de  mattah, 

Sah,  de  feebah's  mountain  high. 
When  ah  'fleck  up  ah  kun'dishyun 

Makes  dis  niggah  sot  an'  cry. 
To  hyeah  de  fo'ks  er  tawkin' 

How  de  niggah's  got  to  fare, 
Dey  mob,  dey  burn  an'  lynch  him, 

An'  dey  skin  him  lak  er  hare. 

It's  true  dey's  lots  er  niggahs 

Dat  am  wurfluss  to  de  co', 
De  debbul  wooden'  hab  'em 

Even  inside  ub  his  do'. 
But  de  Lawd  in  heaven  knows 

Dat  all  de  niggahs  hain't  dat  way, 
Dey's  lots  dat's  good  an'  hones' 

An'  dey  nebbah  goes  estray. 

De  niggah  hain't  to  blame  — 

To  cum  hyeah  he  didn'  kyeah. 
De  white  fo'ks,  why  dey  made  him, 

Why  dey  fotch'd  him  obeah  hyeah. 
An'  now  to  knock  his  head  off 

Kaze  he's  tryin'  to  git  erlong, 
Accawdin'  to  my  Bible, 

Why  de  whole  thing  ub  it's  wrong. 

De  niggah  loves  dis  kentry  — 

Ebbry  time  he'll  put  up  fight 
Fo'  it  wheddah  it  am 

In  de  wrong  ah  in  de  right. 


1  6  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

When  de  signal's  gibbun 
Fo'  to  rally  'rouri'  de  flag, 

Nebbah  fo'  er  minute 
Am  er  niggah  seed  to  lagg. 

De  niggah  hain't  rebelyus 

Though  he  doan'  git  all  things  jus' 
He's  loyal  to  his  kentry, 

Nebbah  habs  betrayed  his  trus'. 
He  allus  takes  de  bitters 

'Zactly  lak  he  does  de  sweet, 
He  goes  right  on  light  hea'ted, 

Wid  er  tew  step  to  his  feet. 

Whut  we  gwine  to  do? 

Hain't  dey  no  whah  in  de  Ian'? 
Hain't  de  fo'  de  niggah 

Not  er  kin'  an'  he'pin'  han'? 


KAZE  I  KNO'  I  KAIN'T  STOP. 

Summah  breezes  blowin', 

An'  de  sun  am  roas'in'  hot! 
Jes'  right  am  de  meadows 

Fo'  to  take  'em  fo'  er  cot! 
Grasses  sof  an'  downy, 

Am  jes'  like  er  feddah  bed! 
Hain't  er  spot  dat  am  mo'  'vitin' 

Fo'  er  niggah  lay  his  head! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  [7 

But  er  niggah,  kain't  stop ! 
Mus'  keep  hoein'  at  de  crop ! 
Out  de  weeds  mus'  keep  er  pullin' 
Till  he's  ready,  mos'  to  drop! 

White  man  take  it  easy, 

Am  er  livin  'lak  er  king ! 
Free  ez  am  de  buzzahd, 

Doesn't  hab  to  do  er  thing ! 
Niggah  'd  lak  to  togg  up 

In  his  Sunday  meetin'  dress, 
An'  jes'  lak  de  white  man, 

Sot,  an'  lay  back,  take  his  res'. 

But  er  niggah,  kain't  stop ! 
Mus'  keep  hoein'  at  de  crop! 
Out  de  weeds  mus'  keep  er  pullin' 
Till  he's  ready,  mos'  to  drop! 

Sumtimes  g"it  to  'fleckin' 

Scratch  dis  head  whah  it  doan'  itch ! 
Axin'  why  de  Lawd,  sah, 

Diden'  make  dis  niggah  rich ! 
But  dey  hain't  no  use  to  kick, 

But  jes'  keep  er  josslin'  'long. 
Now  an'  den  I  keeps  er  whis'lin' 

An'  er  hummin'  at  mah  song. 

Kaze  I  kno'  I  kain't  stop! 
Mus'  keep  hoein'  out  de  crop ! 
Out  de  weeds  mus'  keep  er  pullin' 
Till  Ise's  ready'  mos'  to  drop ! 


l8  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Now  an'  den  I  sortah 

Git  er  ticklin'  in  mah  heel  ! 

Fo'  to  go  to  dancin' 

At  de  ol'  Verginny  reel  ! 

Soople  ez  a  skeedah  ! 

Dance  de  jig  fum  night  till  morn, 

Nebbah  stop  er  minute,  bruddah, 
Fo'  an'  ache  er  fo'  er  co'n! 

But  er  niggah,  kain't  stop! 
Mus'  keep  hoein'  at  de  crop  ! 
Out  de  weeds  mus'  keep  er  pullin' 
Till  he's  ready,  mos'  to  drop! 


DAHKY,  WHUT  YO'  DUN 

Oh,  but  how  er  dollah 

Is  er  moighty  fren', 
In  de  dead  o'  wintah, 

Ef  yo'  idle  den. 
Winds  dey  may  be  howliir, 

Whizzin'  th'ew  de  trees  ! 
Needen'  worry,  dahky, 

Yo'  hain'  gwine  to  freez  ! 

Summah  is  er  flyin', 
Breezes  gittin'  cool  ! 

Beddah  be  er  layin' 
In  yo'  wintah  fuel  ! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  IQ 

Leaves  begin  to  fallin', 

Harvestin'  is  dun, 
Birds  am  now  er  troopin' 

Soufward  wid  de  sun. 

Hoein'  time  is  obeah, 

Dahky  take  yo'  res' ! 
Throw  off  wockin'  hahness, 

Don  yo'  Sunday  bes' ! 
Fiddles  an'  de  banjos  — 

Git  'em  all  in  tune, 
'Nipulate  de  ditties 

Gibbs  de  soul  er  boon ! 

In  de  spring  an'  summah, 

Dahky  whut  yo'  dun? 
Ridin'  on  de  skershuns, 

Habin'  lots  o'  fun? 
Dancin'  wid  de  ladies, 

Spen'in'  all  yo'  got? 
Thinkin'  kaze  it's  summah, 

'Twill  be  allus  hot? 

Yo'  de  kins  cum 

Knockin'  on  de  cabin  do', 
Fo'   to  get   er  sistance, 

Tell  'er  tale  o'  wo'. 
Den's  de  time  to  sho'  yo' 

We's  no  easy  thing, 
'Videin'  fo'  yo'  stummucks 

Wid  ah  hoe  earnin'. 


2O  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Whut  yo'  needs  er  lesson 

In  de  'speerence  school. 
Git  de  realizayshun 

Whah  yo'  bin  er  fool. 
Den  yo'll  git  de  idea, 

Dollah  is  yo'  fren', 
Larn  to  be  mo'  kyahful 

How  yo'  money  spen'. 


WHEN  DE  FIAH  AM  KINDLIN'  HOT. 

When  de  sno'  it  am  er  fallin', 

Winds  er  whizzin'  down  de  lanes, 
An'  de  fros'  it  am  er  freezirf 

Fo'  yo'  eyes  erpun  de  panes, 
Whut  am  beddah  den  er  neslin' 

'Roun'  er  fiah  dat's  roas'in  hot? 
Fo'  er  pickaninny  dahky 

Hain't  er  mo'  enchanting  spot. 

When  de  breezes  am  er  moanin' 

An'  de  sun  am  sinkin'  lo', 
An'  de  gloomy  clouds  an'  shaddahs 

Geddah  'roun'  erbout  yo'  do'  ; 
When  yo'  hyeah  de  co'n  er  poppin', 

See  de  cidah  all  er  foam, 
In  yo'  soul  de  joy  an'  gladness 

Seems  eroun'  erbout  to  roam. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  21 

An'  yo'  granny  am  er  hummin', 

Cat  er  purrin'  on  de  rug, 
An'  yo'  git  er  sniff  de  burbun 

Dat  am  steamin'  ftim  de  jug  — 
Umph  !  de  berry  'maggahnayshun 

Makes  er  puson  think  it's  real. 
It  am  glory !    Hesh  yo'  mouf,  sah, 

Doan'  yo'  ax  me  how  yo'  feel. 

All  yo'  troubles  an'  yo  burdens 

Seems  to  take  de  swifes  flight! 
Tears  yo'  berry  soul  am  lif'ed 

To  de  blissful  mountain  heights  ! 
Whah  de  lan's  erflo'  wid  honey, 

Streets  an'  alleys  paved  wid  gol', 
An'  de  simphonnies  o'  heaben's 

Got  er  sweetnes'  kaint  be  tol'. 

Yo'  kin  sing  de  song  o'  Moses, 

Shout  yo'se'f  clah  to  de  sky ! 
Pickahninny's  den  in  cloveah. 

No  time  den  to  weep  an'  sigh. 
Let  de  sno'  keep  on  er  fallin', 

Let  de  breezes  whizz  an'  moan, 
Longs  er  pickahninny's  neslin' 

'Roun'  er  hot  fiah  ub  his  own, 


22  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

LAMENTATION. 

When  de  rent  cums  due, 

An'  yo'  haben  got  er  dollah, 
An'  yo'  hab  to  hunt 

Fo'  er  nuddah  place  to  wollah, 
De  wintah's  dun  cum, 

An'  de  coal  pile's  sinkin', 
Dey's  nufin'  in  de  cupboard 

An'  yo'  stummuck  am  er  tinkin', 

How  yo'  head  wool  geddahs ! 

How  yo'  hunt  an'  scratch ! 
Fo'  to  skibbah  up  er  dollah 

Beats  de  ol'  Sam  Patch ! 

When  yo'  sot  an'  'fleck, 

Seems  befo'  yo'  keeps  er  bobbin' 
De  possum  an'  de  coon, 

An'  de  peach  an'  apple  cobblin'. 
Yo'  dream  bout  summah, 

Wid  de  joocy  wattah  millun, 
Dat  yo'  sotin'  in  de  middle 

An'  yo'  stummuck  jes'  er  fillin', 

How  yo'  mouf  does  wattah ! 

How  yo'  stummuck  jes'  jump  ! 
An'  yo'  eyes  am  all  er  twinkle 

An'  yo'  hump  ! "  hump  !   hump ! 

When  de  night  cums  on 
1     An'  dey  hain't  er  nuf  de  kibbah, 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  23 

While  yo'  bunk  an'  snooz 

Fo'  to  keep  yo'  fum  de  shibbah, 
De  coal's  dun  sinkiiv 

Till  it  am  no  mo', 
De  weddah  am  at  zero, 

De  worl  am  kibbahd  in  de  sno', 

How  yo'  head  wool  geddahs  ! 

How  yo'  hunt  an'  scratch 
Fo'  to  skibbah  up  er  dollah 

Beats  de  ol'  Sam  Patch  ! 


WHEN  DE  SUMMAH'S  DUN  CUM. 

When  de  wintah's  dun  gone 

An'  de  summah's  dun  cum, 
An'  de  birds  begin  dey  wabble 

An'  de  bees  begin  dey  hum, 
An'  de  hills,  de  fields,  de  meadows 

Wid  de  verdure  all  am  green, 
An'  de  heaben's  panorama 

Am  er  mos'  enchantin'  scene, 

Den  er  niggah's  kin  sing! 

Den  er  niggah  kin  hum  ! 
Kaze.de  wintah's  dun  gone, 

An'  de  summah's  dun  cum  ! 

When  de  vines  am  climin', 
Spreadin'  beauty  on  de  run, 

An'  de  cullah's  o'  de  lan'scape 
An'  de  sky  dey  blen'  ez  one, 


24  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

An'  de  flowah's  ez  dey's  buddin' 
An'  er  blossom'  an'  er  bloom, 

An'  de  breezes  fan  dey  petals 

Koch  dey  sweetest'  smellin'  'fume, 

How  yo'  soul  inspahs  ! 

How  yo'  hea't  does  tickle  ! 
Den  er  niggah  am  happy 

Ef  he  haben'  got  er  nickel  ! 

When  de  craps  am  wavin' 

An'  de  tassel's  on  de  co'n, 
An'  de  apples  am  er  drapirr 

An'  de  sweepahtayters  born, 
An'  de  cabbage  am  er  headin', 

Swellin'  lak  dey  got  de  mumps, 
An'  de  passnups  am  er  peepin' 

Winkin'  at  yo'  hine  de  stumps, 

How  er  niggah  kin  whis'le  ! 

How  his  soul  does  'joice  ! 
'Kaze  it's  time  fo'  de  millun 

An'  it's  time  fo'  de  squash  ! 


THE  COON'S  SERENADE. 

In  de  lonesum  ub  de  night 
When  de  moon's  er  shinin'  bright, 
Coon  er  sotin'  on  er  stump 
Pick§  de  banjo,  plinkertee  plump  ! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  25 

Sof'ly  floats  de  mournful  'frain 
'Cross  de  dewy,  grassy  main  — 
Plinktee  !  plinktee !  plinkertee  plump  ! 
Picks  de  coon  erpun  de  stump ! 

Ebbry  win'  an'  ebbry  breeze, 
Ebbry  twig  erpun  de  trees, 
Echoes  wid  de  plinkertee  plump! 
Ub  de  coon  erpun  de  stump ! 
Plinktee !  plinktee  !  plinkertee  plump ! 
Picks  de  coon  erpun  de  stump ! 

Ez  de  night  glides  slo'ly  on, 
An'  de  moon  slips  down  fo"  dawn, 
An'  de  veil  draps  fum  de  skies, 
An'  de  worl'  opens  its' eyes, 
Dies  erway  de  plinkertee  plump ! 
Ub  de  coon  erpun  de  stump ! 
Plinktee !  plinktee !  plinkertee  plump ! 
Stops  de  coon  erpun  de  stump! 

&    &    & 
BLISSFUL  ANTICIPATIONS. 

Jes'  gimme  summah  all  de  time, 

An'  lemme  take  it  easy. 
Jes'  lay  back  in  de  cloveah  beds 

An'  dream  whah  it  am  breezy. 
I  doan  kyeah  fo'  no  robe  ner  crown 
Ez  long  ez  I  kin  wollah  'roun' 
An'  nebbah  hab  to  hoe  de  grown'. 

Ha !  ha !  yo'  thinks  Ise  lazy ! 


26  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

I'd  spawk  an'  court  Miss  Lissy  Jane  — 

Umph  !  but  I'd  cut  er  spluttah  ! 
I'd  tell  her  dis,  I'd  tell  her  dat, 

Fas'  one  thing  den  er  nuddah. 
We'd  ramble  whah  de  wild  flow'rs  bloom 
Dat  fill  de  air  wid  sweet  scent  'fume 
Whah  dey's  no  clouds  an'  dey's  no  gloom  ! 
We'd  sot  the  wol'  to  fluttah ! 

I'd  git  mah  banjo  fum  de  wall 
An'  now  an'  den  go  plinkin' ! 
I'd  make  de  dahk's  heels  jes'  itch 

To  dance  ez  fas'  es  winkin' ! 
I'd  make  her  sing,  I'd  make  her  moan, 
I'd  sen'  er  tone  to  Gabriel's  throne, 
I'd  play  dem  tricks  befo'  unknown, 
I'd  sot  de  fo'ks  to  thinkin' ! 

I  kno'  yo'  thinks  dis  dahky  slo' 
An'  tawkin'  jes'  fo'  blowin' ! 

An'  buildin'  castles  in  de  air, 
An'  debbilment  er  sowin'. 

It's  jes,  prezaxly  lak  I  say, 

Jes'  shows  Ise  ol'  an  shows  Ise  gray. 

Befo'  de  Lawd  !   it's  almos'  day  ! 
To  bed  !    de  chicken's  crowin' ! 


PLANTATION   ECHOES.  27 

PAWSON  JOHNSON  AT  DINNER. 

He'p  you'se'f,  mah  bruddah, 

Jes'  make  yo'se'f  at  home ! 
'Kaze  yo'  am  no  stranger 

To  Siss  Wiggle  Sloam. 
Go  'head  on  dat  chicken, 

'Kase  it  tissen  skace! 
"Doan'  yo'  worry,  sistah, 

I  is  in  no  has'e ! 

"Lair  sakes,  Sistah  Wiggle, 

You'  treat  me  lak  er  king ! 
Ha !  ha !  'skooze  me,  sistah, 

One  mo'  chicken  wing! 
Tote  me  few  dem  waffles, 

Chittlins  good  an'  hot ! 
Ebbah  thing  ise  eatin' 

Trabbles  to  de  spot ! 

Lawd  Gawd !  Sistah  Wiggle, 

I  jes'  seed  dat  'possum ! 
Hiden'  an'  er  grinin' 

'Hine  dat  sunflow'r  blossom  ! 
To'  I'd  let  dat  possum 

Git  out  o'  mah  sight, 
Th'ow  erside  mah  Gospel, 

To  de  las'  I'd  fight ! 

Bruddah,  kain't  yo'  sortah 
Gib  er  little  toas'  ? 


28  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

'Deed  I  kain't,  Gawd  knows  it, 
Whah  dey's  possum  roas'  ! 

Feed  de  lambs,  mah  Sistah, 
Whut  de  good  book  say  ! 

Yo's  fulfillin'  Scripshah 
Treatin'  me  dis  wa    ! 


GO'  'WAY  MAH  HONEY. 

Gitin'  sortah  'ristercratic 

Go  'way,  mah  honey! 
Sistah  Jane,  de  ol'  roommatic  ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey! 
Th'ow'd  erway  her  dress  o'  mattin'  ! 
Wearin'  silk  an'  wearin'  satin'  ! 
Right  in  style,  de  lates'  patte'n  ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey! 

Wearin'  hoops,  an'  got  er  bustle  ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey  ! 
When  she  passed,  Lawd,  how  dey  rustle  ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey! 
Umph  !  she  stepped  lak  Queen  o'  Sheeba, 
Clah  out  dressed  ol'  Sistah  Feeba, 
Hel'  her  trail  lak  dat  Miss  Neeba  ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey! 

High  heel  shoes,  she's  wearin',  too! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey  ! 
Look  to  me  dey's  numbah  two  ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey  ! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  29 

Paten'  leddah  wid  er  buckle ! 
Hot  stuff,  reglah  honey  suckle! 
When  she  pass'd,  oh  how  fo'ks  chuckle ! 
Go  'way,  mah  honey ! 

Doan'  yo'  kno1  she  had  on  powdah ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey ! 
White  fo'ks  kooden'  looked  mo'  louclah ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey ! 
Had  her  hyah  smoothed  down  wid  tallow  ! 
Bangs  in  front  was  short  and  shallow ! 
Gibb  her  face  er  p'culiar  pallow ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey! 

Umph !  she  tried  to  tawk  so  proppah ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey ! 
Spoke  dem  wurds  dat  was  er  whoppah ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey ! 
See  her  primp  her  mouf  and  tickle ! 
Made  her  look  so  pow'ful  fickle ! 
Bet  she  cliden'  hab  e  nickel ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey ! 

Scan' lous  'bout  sum  cullahd  people ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey ! 
Mattahs  not  how  ol'  an'  feeble ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey ! 
Git  on  sum  new  bibb  an'  tuckah ! 
Dey'll  out  step  sab !  ol'  Dan  Tuckah ! 
Doan'  kyah  ef  dey's  er  co'n  shuckah ! 

Go  'way,  mah  honey ! 


3O  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

BRER  POSSUM  DECLINES. 

Way  in  de  tree 

Sots  ol'  Bruddah  Possum ! 
Hey,  dah ;  I  see  yo' 

Bruddah  Possum,  hine  de  blossom ! 
Yo'  needn'  ac'  so  timid, 

Ner  yo'  needen'  ac'  so  shy, 
Dey's  beddah,  closeah  frenship 

Fo'  er  possum,  closeah  nigh  ! 

Hey,  dah,  Bruddah  Possum, 

Yo'  ac'in'  moighty  'trary; 
Saunter  down  er  minute  ! 

Now,  yo'  needen'  hab  no  worry, 
Ner  pusnul  tooberayshuns, 

An'  de  sich,  de  lak  er  dat ! 
Cum  down,  yo'  needen'  boddah 

What  de  bawkin'  dogs  er  at ! 

Look  hyeah,  Bruddah  Possum, 

Bleeb  yo'  feelin'  kine  o'  skeery ! 
Gittin'  tiad  er  coaxin', 

Makes  me  feel  er  little  dreary ! 
Doan'  lak  so  much  beggin', 

Ner  I  doan'  lak  so  much  pleadin', 
'Speshly  to  mah  mine, 

When  dey's  not  er  bit  o'  needin'. 

Hey,  dah,  Bruddah  Possum, 
Yo'  jes'  lak  ol'  Bruddah  Satan ! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  3! 

Think  de  odds  er  gin  yo', 

An'  yo'  keep  er  fellah  waitin'. 
Well,  it  doesn't  mattah, 

Ef  yo'  'sist  on  me  er  climein', 
Hoi'  yo'  bref  er  minute  ! 

'Kase  hyeah  cums  up 
Bruddah  Highmen  ! 


I  HAIN'T  FOOLIN'  HONEY. 

Seed  yo'  wid  yo'  gal  las'  night  ! 

I  hain't  foolin',  honey  ! 
Had  yo'  arms  eroun'  her  tight! 

I  hain't  foolin',  honey  ! 
Umph  !  whut  made  yo'  squeeze  her  so  ? 
Jes'  bekaze  yo'  am  her  beau  ? 
I'd  bin  her  I'd  let  yo'  go! 

I  hain't  foolin',  honey! 

Seed  yo'-  try  to  steal  er  kiss  ! 

I  hain't  foolin',  honey! 
An'  she  slapp'd  yo'  wid  her  fis'  ! 

I  hain't  foolin',  honey  ! 
Po'  gal  kooden'  hardly  speak  ! 
Shocked  to  def  wid  all  yo'  cheek! 
Go  way,  Gumbo,  yo's  er  sneak  ! 

I  hain't  foolin',  honey  ! 

Yallah,  too,  hain't  she  Gumbo? 
I  hain't  foolin',  honey! 


32  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Reason  dat  yo'  love  her  so! 

I  hain't  foolin',  honey! 
Ef  she  had  de  wooly  hyah, 
Face  ez  black  ez  ol'  pine  tah ! 
Court  her  ?   bet  yo'  wooden',  dah ! 

I  hain't  foolin',  honey! 

Gwine  to  marry  her,  Gumbo? 

Stop  yo'  foolin',  honey ! 
What  dat?    say  yo'  doesn't  kno'? 

Stop  yo'  foolin',  honey ! 
Ax'd  her  fo'  her  hea't  an'  han'  ? 
Bet  yo'  habben'  got  de  san' ! 
'Fess  up,  Gumbo,  umph  !  mah  Ian' ! 

I  hain't  foolin',  honey ! 

Bet  she  hain't  stuck  on  yo'  'tall ! 

I  hain't  foolin',  honey ! 
Does  she  kiss  yo'  when  yo'  call  ? 

Stop  yo'  foolin',  honey ! 
Lan'  sakes,  Gumbo,  yo'  woan'  do ! 
Go  'way  ;   no,  I  woan'  kiss  yo' ! 
Git  yo'  big  foots  off  mah  shoe! 

I  hain't  foolin'',  honey ! 

Idoan'  kiss  no  rusty  coon ! 

I  hain't  foolin',  honey ! 
Who,  yo'  be  mah  chaperoon? 

Hain't  you  foolin',  honey? 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  33 

Pick  my  'com'ny,  whut  I  do  ! 
Lawd  sakes,  knows  I  doan'  want  yo' ! 
Good  day,  home  Ise  long  go  due ! 
I  hain't  foolin',  honey! 


SLEEP. 

Sleep ! 

Cums  de  solemn  night, 
An'  de  day's  tuck  flight! 
Not  er  bird  ner  coon 
Am  er  whis-lin'  choon. 

Sleep ! 

Sleep ! 

Slo'  de  hours  slip  'long 
To  de  brooklet's  song, 
In  de  sof  deep  hush 
Cums    de    star's   sweet   blush. 

Sleep ! 

Sleep ! 

In  er  lonesum  tone 
Ez  he  creep  erlone, 
Cums  de  cricket  calf 
Fum  de  vine  clad  wall. 

Sleep ! 

Sleep ! 

Up  de  hillside  steep 
Now  de  moon  take  creep ! 


34  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Th'ew  de  cab'n  loft,  gleam 
On  er  coon  in  dream. 
Sleep ! 


A  PROFUSE  ENCOMIUM. 

Lookin'  nice  to-night,   Miss   Liza, 

Yo's  out  dressed  'em  all  to-night. 
Wid  dat  ah  so  frusterkaytun 

Yo'  so  dazzlin'  in  de  light ! 
Please   doan'    'strew    mah   wnrds    fo   flattah 

Spoken  incandessenly, 
But !  wid  mutuallistic  frankness 

'Cep  'em  fabbrykayshenly. 

"Thank  you,  Mistah  Johnsin', 

Do  yo'  think  I  look  so  fine? 
'Deed  sah,  Mistah  Johnsin', 

Yo'  so  asterroshus  kino. 
Woan'  yo'  sot  beside  me 

An'  conversykate  er  while, 
Please  doan'  hab  no  skooples 

Kaze  Ize  togged  up  in  dis  style." 

"Yo's  suppassed  yo'se'f,  Miss  Liza, 

Quiv-vah-kay-shah-ently  gran', 
An'  yo'  grace  dis  runkshus  'kayshun 

Lak  one  fum  de  glory  Ian'. 
Ef  yo'  hab  no  inter jeckshuns 

Will  yo'  dance  er  step  wid  me  ? 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  35 


Kaze  sech  'joicin'  frollerkayshun 
Gibbs  fellerisher-tish-shus  glee." 

'  'Skyoose  me,  Mistah  Johnsin', 

I  doan'  kyah  to  mingel  late, 
I  wood  raddah  be  specktay-shus 

Sotin'  hyeah  wid  Mistah  Gate. 
Xot  dat  I  doan'  d'  sah  yo'  tenshun 

An'  doan'  preeshee-ate  yo'  'ques' 
I  prefer  tran-quil-ler-kayshun 

Sotin'  lookin'  at  de  res'." 

'  'Cep'  mah  'pology,  Miss  Liza, 

Fo'  mah  troo-ser-tay-shus  'ques'. 
I  jes  ax'd  yo'  fo  politeness, 

Tho't  yo'd  lak  to  jine  de  res'." 
Tain't  er  bit  o'  trooshun, 

Mistah  Johnsin',  not  at  tall  ! 
I  may  grant  yo'  axin' 

When  we  'ten'  sum  uddah  ball." 


PEEPIN'  TH'EW  DE  HUSK. 

Dahky  doan'  worry, 

Kaze  de  wintah's  dun  gone! 
Craps  am  all  er  sproutin' 

Soon  we'll  hab  de  sugah  co'n  ! 
Den  we'll  roas'  an'  stew  it 

An'  we'll  fry  it  in  de  pan, 
Th'ow  de  buttah  on  it 

Nufin'  fineah  in  de  lin'  ! 


36  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Hain't  er  gwine  to  worry, 
Needah  make  er  bit  o'  fuss ! 

Kaze  de  sugah  co'n 

Will  soon  be  peepin'  th'ew  de  huss ! 

See  de  wattah  milluns 

How  dey's  cumin'  on  de  vine ! 
Lawd  er  mussy,  chillun, 

Puts  yo'  teef  erpun  de  grine ! 
Mussen'  think  er  bout  'em, 

Gits  mah  stummuck  all  er  jump! 
Hea't  er  fas'ah  beatin' 

An'  er  thumpin' !  thump  !  thump  ! 

Hain't  er  gwine  to  worry, 
Needah  make  er  bit  o'   fuss ! 

Kaze  de  sugah  co'n 

Will  soon  be  peepin'  th'ew  de  huss ! 

When  de  wattah  milluns 

Git   kervellopd   on   de   vine, 
Winkin',   peepin'   at  yo', 

How  er  dahky's  eyes  shine ! 
An'  yo'  buss'  'em  open 

An'  yo'  see  de  blushin'  red, 
Haben'  got  er  minute 

Fo'  de  bressins  to  be  said ! 

Hain't  er  gwine  to  worry, 
Needah  make  er  bit  o'   fuss ! 

Kaze  de  sugah  co'n 

Will   soon  be  peepin'  th'ew  de  huss ! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  37 

Sun  'er  creepin'  higher, 

Am  'er  gittin'  pow'ful  hot ! 
Hoein'  an'  er  weedin' 

Am  er  dahky's  tufes'  lot ! 
To  de  hoe  er  stickin' 

Till  yo'  back  jes'  ache  an'  ache, 
Sun  er  pohin'  on  yo' 

Makes  er  dahky  nahly  bake ! 

Hain't  er  gwine  to  worry, 

Needah  make  er  bit  o'   fuss ! 
Kaze  de  sugah  co'n 

Will  soon  be  peepin'  th'ew  de  huss ! 

Mo'  yo'  keeps  er  hoein' 

Fas'ah  seems  to  gro'  de  grass ! 
Dahky  gits  to  thinkin' 

Hoein'  time   will   ebbah  las'! 
Weedin'  an'  er  hoein' 

Ef  er  dahky  was  to  stop, 
Sho'  ez  am  de  gospel 

Wooden'  git  er  bit  o'  crop ! 

Hain't  er  gwine  to  worry, 

Needah  make  er  bit  o'  fuss! 
Kaze  de  sugah  co'n 

Will  soon  be  peepin'  th'ew  de  huss ! 


38  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

AXIN',  COON?     CUM  OBEAH. 

Meadows  lak  er  feddah  bed, 
Sproutin'  cloveah  white  an'  red, 
Sof  ez  pillahs  to  de  tread, 
Axin',  coon  ?     Cum  obeah  ! 

Milluns  loafin'  in  de  grass, 
Flirtin'  when  er  coon  cum  pass, 
When  er  look  he  dat  way  cas', 
Axin',  coon  ?     Cum  obeah  ! 

Cabbage  loafin'  'roun'  de  stump, 
Lookin'  sassy,  fat  an'  plump, 
Swellin'  up  all  in  er  bump, 
Axin',  coon  ?     Cum  obeah  ! 

Coon  er  wockin,  at  de  co'n, 
Doh  dat's  all  fo'  what  he's  born, 
Wockin'  night  an'   wockin'  morn, 
Hain't  got  time  cum  obeah! 


HUSTLE. 

Doan'  lag  an'  fool 
Erlong  de  way  — 

Hus'el  ! 

Doan'  'spec'  to  do 
All  in  er  day  — 

Hus'el  ! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  39 

Things  will  cum 
Out  by  an'  by, 
Musen'   stop 
To  stew  an'  sigh. 
Den's  when   success 
May  be  nigh- 
Hus'el ! 

Take  no  time 
Fo'  lookin'  back  — 

Hus'el ! 

T'  see  whose  cumin' 
On  de  track  - 

Hus'el ! 
Ebbry  time 
Yo's  losin'  groun', 
Time  yo'  take 
Fo'  gawkin'  'roun'. 
Ef  yo'  'spec' 
To  git  er  crown  — 

Hus'el ! 

Ef  yo'  'spec' 

Er  good  co'n  crop  — 

Hus'el ! 
Nebah  git  it 
Ef  yo'  stop  — 

Hus'el ! 
Ef  yo'  'spec' 
De  corn  to  gro' 
Full  co'n  stawks 


4°  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

In  ebbry  ro', 
Doan'  be  skaid 
To  use  de  hoe  — 
Hus'el  ! 

Take  no  time 
To  argufy  — 

Hus'el  ! 

T'  make  sum  fellah 
Out  er  lie  — 

Hus'el  ! 
Ha'f  de  time 
Yo's  losin'  win', 
Same  time  doin' 
Er  little  sin. 
Aftah   all 
Yo'  nuffin  in  — 

Hus'el  ! 


GO  SLEEP. 

Go  sleep,   li'l'  pickahninny 

Go  sleep  ! 

De  boogahman  koch  yo' 
Ef  yo'  peep  ! 

Go  sleep  ! 
He  prowlin'  'roun' 
Sof  ez  er  cat  — 
He  kno'  whah 

LiT  pickahninny's  at  — 
Go  sleep! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  4! 

Go  sleep,   HT  pickahninny  ! 

Go  sleep  ! 
Still  ez  er  mouse 
When  creepin'  keep  — 

Go  sleep  ! 
De  boogahman 

Am  moighty  peert  ! 
He  sly  ol*  fox 
Dat's  on  de  'lert  ! 

Go  sleep  ! 

Go  sleep,   HT  pickahninny  ! 

Go  sleep  ! 

I  hyeah  de  boogah  man 
Creep,  creep,  creep! 

Go  sleep  ! 
He  kotch  er  hoi' 

An'  shake  de  do'  — 
An'  ope'  his  mouf 
An'  said  wo',  wo'  ! 

Go  sleep! 


KAZE  DE  SUN  AM  SINKIN'. 

Droopy,  droopy,  am  de  flow'rs, 
Petals  closed  an'  shrinkin', 

Gone  er  sleepin'  an'  er  doze  — 
Kaze  de  sun  am  sinkin'  ! 

All  de  day  er  lookin'  gran' 

An'  er  'fumein'  up  de  Ian', 


42  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Baskiir   now  in  slumbah's  stran'  — 
Kaze  de  sun  am  sinkin' ! 

Droopy,  droopy,  am  de  flow'rs, 

Petals  closed  an'  shrinkin', 
Peepahs  shet  an1  fas'  ersleep, 

Kaze  de  sun  am  sinkin'! 

Crystal  brooklet  glidin'  'long 

Chants  to  dem  er  cradle  song, 

Res'  an'  slumbah,  weary  throng  — 

Kaze  de  sun  am  sinkin' ! 

Droopy,  droopy,  am  de  flow'rs, 

Petals  closed  an'  shrinkin', 
Lull'd  ersleep  in  fairy  realm, 

Kaze  de  sun  am  sinkin' ! 
All  dey  tinsels  tints  an'  hue 
Dat  attracts  de  bees  an'  woo, 
Closed  dey  now  am  all  to  view  — 
Kaze  de  sun  am  sinkin' ! 

Droopy,  droopy,  am  de  flow'rs, 

Petals  closed  an'  shrinkin', 
Soon  will  wake  wid  birds  an'  bees, 

When  de  sun's  dun  sinkin' ! 
When  de  sunlight  mounts  to  view, 
At -de  tech  o'  mornin's  dew 
Once  mo'  will  dey  ope  to  view  — 
Kaze  de  sun's  dun  sinkin' ! 


PLANTATION     ECHOES.  43 

SOFT  FALLS  THE  NIGHT. 

This  Poem  is  dedicated  to  Miss  ANNA  HALL  SMITH. 

Soft  falls  the  night  - 

And  chases  'way 
The  slowly  dying 

Summer  day. 
The  sun  from  his 

Ethereal  height, 
Is  curtained  by 

The  shades  of  night. 

Soft  falls  the  night  - 

The  birds  that  tune 
Their  song  with  nature 

In  commune 
Now  hush  their  lays 

Seek  silent  rest, 
Within  their  downy 

Leafy  nests. 

Soft  falls  the  night  — 

Sweet  peace  divine 
In  each  heart  comes 

To  be  enshrined, 
While  angels  pause 

On  earth  to  show'r 
The  blessings  of 

The  sovereign  pow'r. 

Soft  falls  the  night - 
A  peaceful  sleep 


44  PLANTATION     ECHOES. 

O'er  earthly  mortals 
Doth  now  creep. 

They  rest  now  from 
Their  day's  pursuit  — 

The  world  is  still, 
The  world  is  mute. 

Soft  falls  the  night  — 

The  verdure  green 
Now  glistens  with 

A  dewy  sheen. 
The  flowers  droop, 

Their  petals  close, 
They  dream  away 

In  sweet  repose. 

Soft  fades  the  night  — 

Lo  !  breaks  the  dawn, 
And  nature  'wakens 

With  the  morn, 
Exultingly 

Sends  up  her  lays, 
Her  symphonies, 

To  God  in  praise. 


GIT  ON  BOARD,  CHILLUN. 

De  Gospel  train  am  er  scootin'  down  de  rail 

Git  on  board,  chillun  ! 
Fas'ah  den  er  ship  wid  er  ruddah  an'  er  sail 

Git  on  board,  chillun! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  45 

De  Lawd  in  heaben  am  de  steam  an'  de  pow'r ! 
He  run  dat  train  forty  millun  miles  an'  hour! 
Jes'  es  stroke  ub  de  throttle 
Sends  her  clah  to  heaben's  tow'r ! 
Git  on  board,  chillun ! 

No  sinnah  tribe  kin  ebbah  ride  on  dat  train ! 

Git  on  board,  chillun ! 

De  debil  ner  his  imps  ef  day's  cut  loose  f urn  dey 
chain ! 

Git  on  board,  chillun ! 
None  but  de  lams  ub  de  good  Lawd's  for 
Kin  ride  dat  train  to  de  streets  o'  gol', 
Wid  de  'liggun  lak  an'  ocean  obeahflowin'  in  yo' 
.    soul ! 

Git  on  board,  chillun ! 

She's  jes'  lak  lightnin'  an'  de  quibbah  o'  de  eye! 

Git  on  board,  chillun ! 

Ez  she's  puffin'  an'  er  steamin'  in  er  trabblin'  to 
. .  ,•  :     de  .sky! 

Git  on  board,  chillun ! 

She's  limited,  too,  an'  she  goes  clah  th'ew ! 
She's  got  no  time  fo'  to  fool  wid  yo' ! 
Yo'  mus'  git  on  board  when  de  time  cums,  doo ! 

Git  on  board,  chillun ! 

Dat  train  hain't  skeddul  fo'  de  secun'  time. 

Git  on  board,  chillun ! 
Fo'  to  cum  an'  fotch  yo'  to  de  heabenly  clime ! 

Git  on  board,  chillun ! 


46  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

She  goes  straight  on  an'  she  doan'  tarn  back  ! 
When  she  once  git  start  why  she  hain't  gwine  to 

slack  ! 

Till  she  runs  in  heab'n  on  de  right  side  track  ! 
Git  on  board,  chillun  ! 

De  debil  ner  his  imps  kaint  wreck  dat  ol'  train  ! 

Git  on  board,  chillun  ! 
Ez  she's  dashin'  an'  er  steamin'  o'er  de  mountains 

an'  de  plain  ! 
Git  on  board,  chillun  ! 

She  sticks  to  de  rail  lak  de  hyah  on  yo'  back  ! 
An'  she  nebbah  was  known  fo'  to  jump  fum  de 

track  ! 
Kaze  de  Lawd's  at  de  throttle  air  he  sho'  got  de 

knac'  ! 
Git  on  board,  chillun  ! 


UNCLE  NED  AN'  DE  MOCKIN'  BIRD. 

Bruddah  Mocking  Bird, 
Yo's  moighty  lazy. 
Yo'  doan'  do  nfin' 

But  sing  dat  song, 

Till  de  daylight's  gone 

An'  de  night  cum   'long. 
Er  coon  has  got  to  hoe  an'  hoe 
Till  de  sinkin'  sun 

Tells  de  day  to  go. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  47 

Lawd,  but  yo'  sing 

So  pow'ful  sweet! 
Perched  up  dah, 

In  yo'  leafy  seat. 
Is  yo'  lonesum? 
Does  yo'  hea't  feel  sad? 
Tears  to  me 

Dat  yo'  soul  feels  glad. 

Ez   Ise   wockin'   hard, 

Sweet  ez  de  cloveah 
Yo'  song 

Floats  obeah, 
Way  in  de  co'nfield 

Whah  de  medlark  sings, 
Up  in  de  bough 

Ub  de  tree  it  clings. 

Yo'  nebbah  wock 

But  yo'  bread  is  sho', 
Out  in  de  yahd ; 

'Fo'  ebbry  do', 
Sum  kine  han' 

Th'ows  de  little  crum! 
Kaze  dey  kno'  fo'  sho' 

Dat  yo'  boun'  to  cum. 

De  good  Samaritan 

Part  dey  play. 

Let  yo'  go  'way? 
Hungry  ?     No ! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Dey  nebbah  wood, 
Kase  de  Lawd  wood  say 
Dat  dey  wasn't  good. 

I  kinedah  lak 

To  hyeah  yo'  sing, 
Ef  yo'  is  too  lazy 

To  flop  yo'  wing, 
Sing  on, 

Fill  de  woiT  wid  song. 
I  mus'  be  gittin' 

Mah  wock  er  long. 


PO'  LFL'  RASTUS. 

kittle  Rastus  feelin'  blue  — 

Po'  HT  Rastus! 
Out  o'  sorts  an'  gloomy,  too! 

Po'  HT  Rastus! 
Broke  his  little  hobby  boss. 
Makes  de  little  fellah  cross. 
Doan'  cry,  honey,  'tain'  much  loss. 

Po'  HT  Rastus! 

He  jes'  wo'  out,  rompin'  'roun', 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 
Git  up,  honey,  fum  de  groun' 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Look  ee  dah,  dun  spiled  yo'  dress, 
An'  it  am  yo'  Sunday  bes', 
Now  hain't  yo'  er  poody  mess ! 
Po'  HT  Rastus! 

Whut  dat  stickin'  on  yo'  ban'? 

Po'  HT  Rastus! 
Yo'  bin  in  de  'lasses  can. 

Po'  HT  Rastus! 
Whut  dat  whut  de  Bible  say 
'Bout  de  chile  dat  steal  dat  'way? 
He'll  go  whah  de  bad  man  stay ! 

Po'  HT  Rastus! 

Dat  olj  bad  man  am  er  sight. 

Po'  HT  Rastus! 
Cum  er  sneakin'  'roun'  at  night. 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 

Cum  an  koch  yo'  when  yo'  sleep, 
Den  he  take  er  great  big  leap ! 
Down  er  hoi'  dat's  way  down  deep ! 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 

Cum  hyeah,  little  wooly  head. 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 
Gwine  to  tuck  yo'  way  to  bed. 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 
Look  ee  dah,  de  day  dun  gone ! 
Shaddahs  streamin'  th'ew  de  co'n, 
Sleep  until  de  sunlight  dawn ! 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 


49 


5O  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 


SAMBO'S  RAIN  PHILOSOPHY. 

Whut's  de  use  o'  raisin' 

'Bout  de  weddoh'  cain  ? 
Kase  dey's  wid  de  sunshine 

Mixed  in  clouds  an'  rain ; 
Jes'  ez  well  be  lafin', 

'Joicin'  in  yo'  soul. 
Frettin'  an'  er  stewin' 

Makes  yo'  gray  an  ol. 

Mussen'  'spec'  to  allus 
Git  things  jes'  yo'  way. 

Keep  yo'  eye  kock'd  open 
On  er  beddah  day. 

Learn  to  'cep'  de  weddah 
Ez  de  Lawd  control, 

In  time  will  be  shinin' 
.         Sunshine  bright  an'  gold. 

Lawd  am  boun'  to  sen'  de 

Changes  now  an'  den, 
Kaze  He  knows  whut's  beddah 

Fo'  yo'  in  de  en'. 
Fus'  He  sends  de  sunshine, 

Nex'  He  sends  de  rain, 
To  gibb  life  an'  viggah 

To  de  gol'en  grain. 

It's  de  rainy  weddah, 
Buds  de  flowahs  out, 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  51 

Makes  de  wattahmilluns 

An'  de  'tayters  sprout; 
It's  de  rainy  weddah 

Makes  de  fahmahs  shout  ; 
Drives  erway  de  famine, 

Drives  erway  de  drout. 


JES'  KEEP  ER  LOOKIN'  UP. 

Ef  yo'  fren's  dey  all  fo'sake  yo', 
Think  yo'  gwine  flat  to  de  wall, 

Salt  an'  peppah  nebbah'll  save  yo' 
Fum  an  ebbah  las'in'  fall. 

Ef  yo'  got  de  right  stuff  in  yo', 

You'll  keep  allus  lookin'  up, 
'Membrin'  sum  de  worl's  bes'  jewels 

Drunk  fum  dis  same  bittah  cup  ! 
Ef  yo'  habben'  got  er  dollah, 

An'  no  place  to  lay  yo'  head, 
An'  de  meadows  an'  de  co'n  fields 

Only  places  fo'  yo'  bed  ; 

Ef  de  fo'ks  am  cuttin'  capeahs 
'Fo'  yo'  puttin'  on  dey  airs, 

Wid  dey  silks  an'  wid  dey  satins, 
An'  all  uddah  kine  o'  wares. 

Ef  yo'  got  de  right  stuff  in  yo', 
You'll  keep  allus  lookin'  up, 


52  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

'Membrin'  sum  de  worFs  bes'  jewels 
Drunk  f um  dis  same  bittah  cup ! 

Dey  may  tramp  erpun  yo'  feelin's, 
Dey  may  kick  yo'  on  de  co'n, 

An'  may  tarn  dey  nose  up  at  yo' 
Ez  dey  pass  yo'  in  dey  scorn ; 

Smiles  dey  nebbah  may  hab  fo'  yo', 
Bes'  yo'  git  will  be  er  frown, 

An'  sum  wurds  mos'  harshly  spoken, 
Kaze  dey  think  dat  yo'  is  down. 

Ef  yo'  got  de  right  stuff  in  yo', 

You'll  keep  allus  lookin'  up, 
'Membrin'  sum  de  worl's  bes'  jewels 

Drunk  fum  dis  same  bittah  cup ! 
Ef  fo'  bread  yo'  ax  er  bruddah, 

An'  instead  yo'  git  er  stone, 
An'  yo'  ax  fo'  consullayshun, 

An'  yo'  bahly  git  er  groan, 

An'  sum  knock  yo'  off  yo'  shins, 

An'  think  yo'  nebah  gwine  to  rise, 
Swah  to  God  dey  nebbah  dun  it, 

Meekly  tell  all  kine  o'  lies ; 
Let  'em  go  on  hykerflootin', 

Ebbry  dog  sho'  habs  his  day ; 
Dey  am  uddah  months,  mah  bruddah, 

Jes'  es  pleasant,  ez  am  May. 

Ef  yo'  got  de  right  stuff  in  yo', 
You'll  keep  allus  lookin'  up, 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  53 

'Membrin'  sum  de  worl's  bes'  jewels 
Drunk  fum  dis  same  bittah  cup ! 


WISHED  I'D  RODE  MAH  HOSS. 

Rode  on  dat  ah  'lectric  kyah ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 
No  musstake  it  raised  mah  hyah ! 

Oddah  bin  er  long! 
Nebbah  seed  sech  runnin'  son ! 

Swo'  we's  flyin'  to  de  sun ! 
Tho't  dis  dahky's  days  was  dun ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss ! 

Gee !  dat  thing  did  split  de  ah ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss ! 
Nuffin'  wid  it  kin  compah  ! 

Oddah  bin  er  long! 
Ebbry  thing  wuz  blurred  in  sight ! 

Dus'  flew  higher  den  er  kite! 
Kooden'  tell  de  lef '  fum  right ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 

When  she  struck  eroun'  de  kyerve, 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss ! 
It  unstrung  mah  ebbry  nerve ! 

Oh,  but  I  did  squirm ! 
Oh,  she  kyahd  us  down  de  line ! 

No  hobo  kood  stuck  behine! 
Ef  he  had  he'd  gone  stone  bline ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss ! 


54  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Now  an'  den  she  sortah  reel  ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss  ! 
Stirred  me  up  fum  head  to  heel  ! 

Lawd  but  I  did  quake  ! 
Tawk  erbotit  er  pow'ful  prah  ! 

I  sho'  made  one  den  air  dah  ! 
Strain  was  mo'  den  I  kood  bah  ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 

Once  I  hyeahd  er  moighty  crack  ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss  ! 
Tho't  she's  gwine  to  leeb  de  track, 

Oddah  seed  me,  Chile  ! 
I  felt  mos'  prekareyus,  son  ! 

I  hain't  tawkin'  jes'  fo'  fun! 
Tho't  dis  dahky's  days  was  dun, 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss  ! 


EGGS!    EGGS!  !    EGGS!  !  ! 

When  I  'fleck  o'  Eastah  cum, 

Eggs!   eggs!!   eggs!!! 
Gits  mah  whol'  soul  all  er  hum. 

Eggs!   eggs!!   eggs!!! 
When  de  chickens  flopp  dey  wings, 
Roostah  cro',  de  pullets  sings, 
Gib  me  'bove  all  uddah  things  — 

Eggs!   eggs!!   eggs!!! 

When  de  little  chicks  er  creep, 
Eggs!   eggs!!   eggs!!! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  55 

Run  kerf rolic  peep  !    peep  !    peep  ! ! 

Eggs!   eggs!!   eggs!!! 
Appetite  gits  sort  impressed, 
Wood  go  good,  roas'  chicken  breas', 
Still  goes  bedclah,  nebahless. 

Eggs!   eggs!!   eggs!!! 

When  eroun'  de  ol'  fiah  place 

Eggs!    eggs!!    eggs!!! 
Eggs  look  yo'  squah  in  de  face, 

Eggs!   eggs!!   eggs!!! 
Git  'em  fryiiv  in  de  pan, 
Soun'  lak  music  o'  de  ban, 
Chillun?   Wheel   But  hain't  dey  gran'. 

Eggs!   eggs!!   eggs!!! 

Eat  'em  paoch  'et  eat  'em  bile, 

Eggs!   eggs!!    eggs!!! 
Make  yo'  hit  yo'  granny,  chile. 

Eggs!   eggs!!   eggs!!! 
When  yo'  eat  'em  scramble,  son, 
Feel  dat  yo'  kood  lif  er  ton, 
Er  brack  bar  yo'  kood  out  run. 

Eggs!   eggs!!    eggs!!! 

£    jt    £ 
IT  AM  DE  POSSUM  TIME. 

Weddah  gittin'  chilly, 

Eros'  er  fallin'  on  de  vine ! 

Leaves  er  tarnin'  yallah, 

Now  de  possum  time  is  fine ! 


56  PLANTATION   ECHOES. 

Hickahnuts  er  falling 

Wid  er  thud,  thud,  THUDD! 

Poppin'  an'  er  crackin' 
An'  er  bus'in  out  de  bud ! 

It  am  de  possum  time! 
Yes,  it  am  de  possum  time ! 
It  am  de  time  er  niggah 
Fo  de  coon  to  go  to  clime  ! 

Crickets  all  er  hollah 

Tell  er  niggah  it's  de  fall ! 
Ripenin'  am  de  'simmons 

Fo'  de  great  an'  fo'  de  small ! 
Niggah   jes'  er  waitin' 

Fo'  de  fallin'  o'  de  sno', 
Fo'  to  chase  de  rabbit 

Ez  he's  wingin'  on  de  go! 

It  am  de  possum  time! 
Yes,  it  am  de  possum  time ! 
It  am  de  time  er  niggah 
Fo  de  coon  to  go  to  clime ! 

When  de  sun's  dun  sinkin' 

Cums  de  shinin'  o'  de  moon, 
Niggah'll  take  de  wahpaf 

Fo'  to  go  to  tree  de  coon  ! 
Wid  de  dogs  er  bahkin' 

All  er  chasein',  all  er  romp ! 
Sniffin'  at  de  grasses 

An'  er  scratchin'  at  de  stump ! 


PLANTATION   ECHOES.  57 

It  am  de  possum  time! 
Yes,  it  am  de  possum  time! 
It  am  de  time  er  niggah 
Fo  de  coon  to  go  to  clime  ! 


STICK  TO  YOUR  RACE! 

Umph  !  how  some  cullahd  fo'ks  wan'  to  be  white. 
Bekaze  dey  am  brack  dey  doan'  nebah  seem  right. 
Dey's  shame  ub  dey  cullah  ;   dey's  shame  ub  dey  race  ; 
Dat's  why  dey  wood  lak  to  be  white  in  de  face. 

Bekaze  dey  kain't  bleech  out,  O,  how  dey  deplore, 
Fo'  to  be  cullahd  to  dem's  sech  er  bore. 
To  think  de  Lawd  sent  dem  all  into  dis  Ian' 
Wif  hyah  dat  am  kinky  an'  faces  dat's  tan. 

Fus'  to  de  lef  an'  den  nex'  to  de  right, 

Dey  look  to  see  if  dey  am  sumfin'  in  sight 

To  make  dem  bleech  white,  gib  dem  cheeks  ub  de  rose 

An'  sumfin'  to  gib  dem  a  high  Roman  noze. 

Dey's  kickin'  an  fussin'  an'  raising  turmoil 
Rekaze  dey  kain't  git  hoi'  de  right  kine  ub  oil 
To  take  way  de  kinky  effect  dey  kaint  bah, 
An'  make  it  jes'  lak  de  white  folk's  auburn  hyah. 

Dey  use  mutton  sooit  an'  tallow,  an'  lard, 
Oh  Lward  er  Mussy  !   but  don't  dey  try  hard  ! 
To  make  it  look  wabey  an'  glossy  an'  slick. 
Den  paht  in  de  middle  dey  am  right  to  de  quick. 


58  PLANTATION   ECHOES. 

Ef  dey  hain't  no  hope,  why  dey  go  git  a  wig. 
It  mus'  be  made  fum  white  fok's  hyah,  too,  by  jig. 
Umph  ;    who  ;    Miss  Sukie  ?     why  she  wooden'  dah 
To  wah  a  wig  made  fum  a  coon's  nappy  hyah. 

Whut's  de  use  er  kickin' 

Bekaze  o'  sech  rot? 
Bekaze  yo'  kain't  bleech, 

An'  turn  white  on  de  spot  ! 

Ef  yo'  hyalrs  kinky, 

Yo's  brack  ez  de  tar, 
Thank  de  good  Lawd 

Dat  yo's  jes'  lak  yo'  are. 


MEMORIAL  DAY. 

To  sound  of  mufflled  drums  to-day, 
With  slow  and  solemn  tread  ; 

The  soldiers  march  with  banners  draped 
Where  dwell  heroic  dead. 

The  blue,  the  gray  of  this  fair  realm 

Assemble  o'er  this  land, 
Recount  the  deeds  of  valiant  men 

As  one  vast  mourning  band. 

The  rich,  the  poor,  the  high,  the  low, 

Observe  this  sacred  day, 
For  all  alike  in  days  gone  by 

Have  laid  some  friend  away. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  59 

For  death  the  mighty  reaper  comes 

To  rich  as  well  as  poor. 
Unwelcome  guest  though  he  may  be, 

He  comes  to  every  door. 

To  deck  the  graves  of  dear  loved  ones 

Beneath  luxuriant  bow'rs, 
Countless  willing  loving  hands 

Pluck  nature's  tender  flow'rs. 
The  tokens  of  a  reverent  love 

For  friends  of  that  blest  vale, 
A  love  the  ravages  of  time 

Can  never  change  nor  pale. 

This  day  recalls  much  of  the  past  — 

The  nation's  bloody  wars, 
The  sacrifice  of  noble  lives  - 

To  make  dominant  he  stripes  and  stars. 
In  philosophic  narrative, 

In  eulogy  and  praise, 
In  honor  of  heroic  dead 

The  speaker's  voice  doth  raise. 

And  for  the  country's  honor  fought 

The  black  man  once  a  slave. 
Encouched  within  the  history's  folds 

The  statement,  "he  was  brave !" 
Within  the  marching  ranks  to-day 

Are  remnants  of  the  freed 
Who  fought  and  bled  upon  the  field 

When  'twas  the  country's  need. 


60  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 


TRUSSY'S  VISIT. 

Bress  mah  life !  why,  dis  hain't  Trussey  ? 

Go  'way  Chile !  whut  dat  yo'  say  ? 
Yo1  hain't  fiddlin'  Peedah's  sonny  - 

Who'd  er  tho't  it,  any  way ! 

Ax  me  ef  I  knowed  yo'  daddy  - 
Knowed  each  uddah  yeahs  ergo. 

Me  an'  him  hab  bof  togeddah, 
Hoed  er  many  'taytah  ro'. 

Res'  yo'  duddin's !  take  de  sofa, 
Make  yo'se'f  jes'  lak  yo'  home. 

'Cep'  mos'  free  mah  hooskerpalty, 
Plenty  time  eroun'  to  roam. 

See,  hyeah,  Dina,  am  dem  chittlins 
An'  dem  hog  feet  th'ew  er  bile  ? 

Who  yo'  think  we  got  fo'  dinnah  ? 
Ol'  fren'  Fiddlin'  Peedah's  chile ! 

Well,  sah,  I  hain't  seed  yo'  daddy 
Since  dat  fight  at  Possum  Trot. 

Dog  mah  socks,  we  bof  togeddah, 
Whoop'd  de  debbil  on  de  spot ! 

Still  er  libbin'  down  in  Guinea? 

Why,  dat's  my  ol'  rompin'  groun'. 
Hain't  er  spot,  ner  nook,  ner  crebbice 

Dat  I  doan'  know  'bout  dat  town. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  6l 

Ready,  Dinah  ?    Bress  de  Lawd  !  umph  ! 

Mah  ol'  lady  am  er  sight. 
Kin  she  cook  ?  Whut  ?  Doan'  yo'  staht  me ! 

She  kin  sho'  put  things  up  right ! 

Walk  out,  Trussy ;  go  pertaykin' 

Ub  de  bes'  de  ol'  man's  got ! 
Kose  tain't  much,  but  prob'ly  sumfins 

Dah  will  kinedah  tech  de  spot ! 

Go  'ahead,  say  de  bressins,  Trussy, 

Fo'  de  Lawd  sakes  cut  'em  short. 
Lemme  pos'  yo'  fo'  yo'  staht  in, 

Doan'  yo'  preach  an'  try  to  e'ort  — 

"Make  us  thankful,  Heab'nly  Faddah, 

Fo'  his  byeah  pussipyus  spread ; 
Hyeah  deez  few  mos'  feeble  'spheshyuns 

Dat  yo'  umble  savunt  shed. 

"Gibb  us  wid  ah  daily  bread,  sah ! 

Chicken,  an'  all  sech  ez  dat ! 
Th'ow  in  now  an'  den  er  possum, 

Coon  wid  plenty  lean  an'  fat ! 

"Po'  dy  bressins  on  dis  family  — 

Put  mo'  chickens  on  dey  roos' ; 
Things  git  skace,  dey  needs  er  he'pin', 

Len'  er  han',  gibb  'em  or  boos'." 

Jump  in,  Trussy  ;git  to  business ! 
Ebbry  fellah  fo'  himse'f. 


62  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Whut  hyeah  fo'  us  on  dis  table's 
Nuf  to  take  er  possum's  bref. 

Ha !  ha !  Trussy,  dem  ol'  hog  feet 
Sots  dis  ol'  soul  all  er  chune ! 

Ha  !  ha !  Dina  ?  look  at  Trussy 
Kock  dal  lef '  eye  at  dat  coon ! 

Yo'  hain't  full  kin  to  yo'  daddy 
Ef  yo'  doesn't  lak  de  coon ; 

Possum,  chicken,  sweepahtaytahs, 
An'  de  sumpshus  musheroon. 

Tell  us  'bout  ol'  Tootsy  Tadpole, 
Slipshod  Beebe,  Feeby  Scott! 

Susan  Rhinehole,  Sukie  Slowup, 
Husky  Botts,  de  res'  de  lot. 

Does  I  'membah  Slimmy  Twostep? 

Who  ?  dat  dah  ol'  onry  cuss  ? 
Usetah  hug  de  stove  when  happy, 

In  church  raised  all  kine  o'  fuss? 

Gibb  him  mo'  coon  dupmlin's,  Dina ! 

Sakes!  he's  jes'  fell  into  eat. 
Tote  him  few  dem  frizzlin'  passnups, 

Lecktrifies  yo'  to  yo'  feet ! 

Whah's  ol'  Susan  Peecock,  Trussy  ? 

Is  de  debbil  got  her  yet? 
Sakes  o'  lie !  she's  got  mo'  husban's 

Den  yo's  fingers  got,  Til  bet! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  63 

Cum  on  wid  dem  pig  tails,  Dina ! 

Doan'  be  primpin'  in  de  glass  ! 
Mussen'  make  de  ol'  man  wait  so, 

Yo'  look  poody  nuf  to  pass. 

Bress   de   Lawd  !   whee !  glory !   glory ! 

No  joke,  dem  am  sizzlin'  hot! 
Lissen  at  de  res'  dem  fellahs 

Prayin'  an'  singin'  in  de  pot ! 

Go  'way,  Fido !  see  byeah,  Dina ! 

Kick  dat  debbil  out  de  do' ! 
Ebbry  time  he  sniffs  dem  chittlins 

He's  er  hangin'  'round  hyeah,  sho'. 

See  hyeah,  chile !   yo'  hain't  th'ew  eatin', 

Rake  mo'  dumplin's  on  yo'  plate ! 
Go  dem  rlapp  jacks,  sum  dat  grabey, 

Eat  'long  in  de  mopein'  gait. 

Pass  de  ol'  man  few  dem  biskits ; 

B'lieve  I'll  take  sum  poke  chops,  too! 
Little  mo'  dat  drap  down  coffee, 

Nuddah  dose  dat  bullyun  stew. 

Go  on  in  de  pollah,  Trussy, 

Ef  yo'  got  ernuf  to  eat. 
I'll  be  th'w  in  jes'  er  minute, 

Den  we'll  go  an'  thrash  sum  wheat. 


64  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

IS  YO'  LONESUM,  HONEY? 

Ez  de  twilight  fall, 
An'  de  koo-koo  call, 
An'  yo'  doan'  hyeah  'tall 
Dis  hyeah  coon's  foot  fall, 
Is  yo'  lonesum,  Honey? 

Ez  de  moon  creep  high, 
In  de  starlit  sky, 
An'  yo'  sot  an'  sigh, 
Kaze  I  doan'  cum  nigh, 
Is  yo'  lonesum,  Honey  ? 

Ez  de  night  creep  on, 
Till  de  sun  brings  dawn, 
Ez  yo'  wake  an'  yawn 
In  de  cool  ob  de  morn, 

Still,  yo'  loesum,  hoey? 


LARN  TO  HE'P  YO'SE'F. 

Bruddah  Dahky,  ef  yo'd  win, 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 
Mussen'  stop  fo'  knocks  on  shin, 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 

Stop  yo'  whinin',  try  an'  try, 

Take  no  time  to  weep  an'  sigh, 

Dah's  whahin'  yo'  success  lie. 

'Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  65 

Yo'  mus'  fus'  prove  yo's  er  man. 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 
Try'n  to  'skewt  sum  noble  plan, 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 
Oh,  de  white  fo'ks  knows  yo's  brave, 
Fo'  dis  freedom  Ian'  to  save, 
Dat  yo'  fit  on  Ian'  an'  wave. 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 

All  de  white  fo'ks  hain't  yo'  foe. 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 
Dey  will  gibb  yo'  plenty,  sho'. 

Ef  yo'  he'p  yo'se'f. 
All  er  long  dey's  bin  mos'  kine, 
He'p'd  yo'  long  er  many  line, 
Is  to  all  dis  yo'  stone  bline? 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 

Dah's  Abe  Linkum,  Phillips,  too, 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 
Bet  yo'  life  dey  fit  fo'  yo'. 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 
Thousands  mo'  dat  I  kood  name, 
'Mong  dem,  men  o*  nashnal  fame, 
Fo'  yo'  dahky  dun  de  same. 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 

Sum  de  white  fo'ks  moighty  mean, 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 
Likewise  sum  de  brack  fo'ks  seem 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 


66  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Ebbry  race  got  p'culiar  way, 
Guess  it  all  goes  in  de  play  ; 
Live  in  hopes  dey'll  change  sum  day. 
Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 

Yo'  kin  shout  an'  yo'  kin  sing. 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 
Think  yo's  'neef  de  mahstah's  wing. 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 
But  yo'll  nebah  git  er  crown 
Ef  yo'  sot  an'  fool  eroun'  ; 
Dis  am  Gospul  true  an'  soun'. 

Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 

Dahky,  stop  dat  little  song  — 
Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 

Gimme  Jesus,  take  worl'  'long, 
Larn  to  he'p  yo'se'f. 

Try  to  grip  sum  o'  dis  Ian', 

Den  yo'll  feel  mo'  lak  er  man  ; 

Yo'  am  boun'  to  git  sum  san', 
Ef  yo'  he'p  yo'se'f. 


COURTIN'  O'  DE  PHONE. 

Jingahling!    jingahling! 

When  er  sotin'  lone, 
Yo'  kin  call  yo'  honey  - 

Go  to  courtin'  o'  de  phone. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  67 

Drives  erway  de  shaddahs, 

Makes  yo'  quit  yo'  fret  an'  stew, 
Fills  yo'  soul  wid  sunshine, 

Opens  up  yo'  hea't  ernew. 

Jingahling !    jingahling ! 

Dis  yo',  Liza  Jane  ? 
"Yes,  dis  am  yo'  honey," 

Cums  de  sweet  an'  sof'en  'frain. 
Den  yo'  go  to  pohin' 

In  her  ear  de  words  o'  love : 
Tickles  her  to  def, 

An'  makes  her  think  she  am  er  dove. 

Jingahling !    jingahling ! 

When  yo'  hyeah  her  say : 
"Honey,  when  yo'  gone  it's 

Allus  night  an'  nebbah  day," 
Tears  dat  while  dey's  fallin' 

In  yo'  ear,  dat  lovin'  tone, 
Yo'  kin  see  yo'  honey 

Standin'  dah  befo'  de  phone. 

Jingahling!    jingahling! 

Sweetah  grows  de  tone, 
Makes  er  niggah  neerly 

Ram  his  head  clah  th'ew  de  phone. 
Kaze  dem  sugah  wurds 

Dey  sho'ly  make  yo'  hea't  inspah  — 
'Lecktrifies  yo'   spirit, 

Sots  yo'  whol'  soul  all  er  fiah ! 


68  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Jingahling  !    jingahling! 

When  de  day  is  dun, 
You  no  mo'  kin  see  de 

Blazin',  dazzlin',  sinkin'  sun, 
How  yo'  lub  to  'membah 

'Bout  yo'  courtin'  o'  de  phone, 
Ez  yo'  muse  an'  pondah 

In  yo'  cabin  all  er  lone  ! 


LONESUM  VALLEY  CHRISTMUS  TREE. 

Bes'  ub  all  de  Chrismus  'tainmunts 

Dat  I  axshly  ebbah  seed, 
Was  de  one  at  Lonesum  Valley 

At  the  church  ub  Pawsun  Weed. 

All  de  or  fo'ks  an'  de  chillun 
Dress  purraded  out  dat  night, 

To  de  graid  big  Chrismus  'tainmun' 
Fo'  to  git  dey  Chrismus  mite. 

When  dey's  gaddahd  in  dat  chapel, 
Bruddah,  —  ?   Dey  was  thick  ez  hops, 

WThen  de  chillun  seed  de  candy, 

Smack'd  dey  moufs  an'  lick'd  dey  chops. 

Dey  was  He,  He,  an'  er  lafin' 

An'  er  clappin'  o'  dey  han's, 
An'  dey  jaws  jes'  kep'  er  crackin', 

Lak  de  chittlins  in  de  pans. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES  69 

An'  de  ol'  fo'ks  tell  yo'  honey, 

Sah  I  bleeb  dey  was  de  wuss. 
Dey's  so  ankshus  fo'  dey  'freshmun's 

Dey's  mos'  reddy  fo'  to  bus'. 

Preechah  Weed  wid  dat  dah  swallow 

Tail  an'  ves'  ub  his  cut  low, 
Jes'  had  all  de  flouncin'  sistahs 

Leggin'  fo'  to  be  his  boh. 

Bruddah  Hookey  he  puzzided; 

Felt  so  big  he  thowt  he's  king ; 
Tuck  er  ball  bat,  rapp'd  fo'  ohdah, 

Said,  let's  cleah  ah  th'oats  an'  sing. 

Well,  he  tuck  his  pussnel  meedah, 

Gib  de  linin'  ub  de"hymn, 
An'  dey  sing'd  de  "Weepin'  Moses" 

An'  dey  sing'd  it  too,  by  Jim ! 

At  de  klooshun  ub  dat  ditty, 

Deekun  Jaspah  put  up  prah, 
Th'ow'd  his  haid  clah  to  de  ceilin' 

Dough  he  seed  de  Gates  er  jah. 

Dis  hain't  true,  I'll  eat  de  'possum, 

Sech  er  prah  yo'  nebbah  hyead ; 
Scratch'd  his  haid  an'  weep'd  an'  hollahd 

Tell  his  eyes  lak  blud  was  red. 

Oh,  he's  moanin'  and  er  tonein' 
An'  er  kotchen'  ub  his  bref  — - 


7O  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Spit  erpun  his  ban's  an'  rubb'd  em  — 
Pound  de  bench  fum  right  to  lef '. 

Las'  he  'klooded  an'  de  sistahs 
Staht  to  sing  plantashun  coon. 

Bruddah  Hookey  diclen'  lak  it ; 
TolJ  'em  dey  was  mos'  too  soon. 

But  de  mos'  fun  ub  de  evenin' 
Was  when  gibbin'  presen's  out. 

Yo'd  er  crack'd  yo'  sides  er  lafin' 
Tell  yo'd  got  er  hoi'  de  gout. 

On  de  tree  dey  was  er  chicken ; 

Wasn't  laybeld  wid  er  name. 
When  de  daahkies  hyeahd  erbout  it 

Ebbry  one  put  ifp  er  claim. 

Bruddah  Gyahdnah  spied  de  chicken 
Floppin'  'neef  de  Chrismus  tree; 

Made  er  home  run  wid  er  hollah ; 
"Dat  dah  chicken  am  fo'  me !" 

Well,  sah,  when  he  hollah'd  chicken 
'Twas  de  same  ez  holl'rin  fiah, 

Fo'  dat  chicken  was  er  stampeed 
In  de  church  an'  in  de  quah. 

Sum  de  sistahs  dat  had  room'ticks 
An'  de  aches  fo'  yeahs  an'  yeahs, 

Fo'  dat  chicken  was  er  scramblin' 
An'  a  fallin'  obeah  cheers. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  71 

Preechah  Weed  he  got  so  'cited 

Dat  he  run  clah  out  his  coat, 
Fell  ergin  de  stobe  kerwollup ! 

Butt  his  haid  an'  swo'  by  note. 

But  he  jump'd  up  in  er  jiffy, 

Feelin'  lak  he  was  befo', 
Gibb  er  han'  spring  fo'  dat  chicken, 

But  by  Jinks  he's  mos'  too  slow'. 

'Dough  he  hit  he's  haid  er  stunnah, 

Diden'  eben  make  er  dent, 
Kaze,  he's  so  much  lak  de  debbil, 

Haid  was  hard  ez  adament. 

All  de  time  de  res'  was  skufflin' 

An'  er  kickin'  right  an'  lef, 
Got  so  bunshus  an'  bumbastic 

Dey  kood  hahdly  'tain  deyse'f. 

Loudah  !   Loudah  !   Got  de  janglin' 

Mo'  an'  mo'  dey  ring'd  dey  bluf , 
Wuss  de  grabbin'  fo'  de  chicken 

Den's  when  they  got  at  it  ruf. 

Sum  done  pullin'  out  dey  razzahs 

An'  er  kyahvin'  fo'  de  koh. 
All  de  sistahs  got  to  axin' 

Lawd  sake  leeb  us  out  de  doh  ! 

Fin'ly  Bruddah  Moses  wid  er 
Kinedah  p'culiar  kine  er  trick, 


72  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Kotch'd  de  poultry,  made  er  bee-line, 
Cut  er  reg'lah  dubble  quick. 

Den  sum  swo'  day  had  bin  kunjud, 
Uddahs  'clahd  dey'd  bin  hoo-dood, 

Lef  de  ch'ch  er  swahin'  vengeance 
In  de  wusses'  kine  er  mood. 


YE,  WEES  GOT  ER  FLAG. 

Ise  hyeahd  while  in  mah  ramblin's 

Dat  ah  mos'  subnoxshus  choon,. 
Dat  ebry  bressed  nayshun's 

Got  er  flag  excep'  de  coon. 
I  hyeah  de  white  fo'ks  sing  it, 

An'  I  hyeah  de  niggahs,  too  — 
De  way  de  niggahs  sing  it 

Seems  dey  'cep'  de  thing  fo'  true. 

Yes  wees  get  er  flag  ! 

It's  de  red  !  de  white  !  de  blue  ! 
It's  de  only  one  to  which 

The  niggahs  should  be  true  ! 

It  sut'ly  am  mos'  'gustin' 

Way  de  niggahs  sing  de  thing. 
Dey  clap  dey  hanVan'  hollah 

Sot  de  kentry  all  er  ring. 
I  doesn't  blame  de  white  fo'ks 

Ha'f  ez  much  I  do  de  coon 
Fo'  singin'  an'  er  whis'lin' 

§ech  er  "singyooaytin'  "  chune, 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  73 

Yes  wees  get  er  flag ! 

It's  de  red  !  de  white  !  de  bine  ! 
It's  de  only  one  to  which 

The  niggahs  should  be  true ! 

De  little   pickahninnies 

Why  dey  sing  dat  meetah,  too  ! 
Dey  clap  dey  ban's  an'  hollah, 

'Zackly  lak  de  ol'  fo'ks  do  - 
An'  when  I  hyeah  dem  sing  it 

Ez  dey  dance  an'  joobah  pat  - 
I  feels  lak  walzin'  to  'em 

An'  jes'  knock'n  dem  out  dey  hat. 

Yes  wees  get  er  flag ! 

It's  de  red !  de  white  !  de  blue ! 
It's  de  only  one  to  which 

The  niggahs  should  be  true ! 

De  blood  ub  ah  ol'  foddahs 

Ah  er  cryin'  fum  de  groun'. 
Lissun  !  chillun !  lissun ! 

Doan'  yo'  hyeah  de  doleful  soun'  ? 
Ergin'  sech  kine  ub  'spreshuns 

An'  ergin  sech  kine  ub  choons, 
"Dat  ebry  race  an'  nayshun's 

Got  er  flag  excep'  de  coon." 

Yes  wees  get  er  flag ! 

It's  de  red !  de  white !  de  blue ! 
It's  de  only  one  to  which 

The  niggahs  should  be  true ! 


74  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Dey  fo'git  when  Bruddah  Linkkum 

Gibb  er  call  in  sixty-one. 
Fo'  fo'ks  to  jine  de  army 

Ebry  niggah  grabb'd  his  gun ! 
He  lef '  his  little  cabin 

While  de  ole  fo'ks  stood  in  tears, 
To  fight  fo'  dis  hyeah  kentry 

Ez  true  faithful  volunteers. 

Yes  wees  got  er  flag! 

It's  de  red  !  de  white  !  de  blue ! 
It's  de  only  one  to  which 

The  niggahs  should  be  tru^  ! 

Doh  de  po'  ol'  niggah 

Doesn't  allus  git  his  rights, 
Fo'  his  loyal  kindness 

Lots  er  kicks  an'  lots  ub  smites, 
Yet  'twas  'neef  dat  banner 

Ha'f  er  millun  niggahs  fought, 
He'p'd  to  win  de  vict'rys 

Dat  dis  mighty  kentry  wrought. 

Yes  wees  got  er  flag ! 

It's  de  red !  de  white  !  de  blue ! 
It's  de  only  one  to  which 

The  niggahs  should  be  true ! 

Let  all  ub  de  niggahs 

Teach  dey  chillun  all  to  love 

Dat  ol'  starry  banner 

Dat  am  floatin'  up  er  'bove. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  75 

Spite  ub  all  ah  trubble 

Things  dat  makes  ah  progress  lagg, 
'Membah  dat  Ol'  Glory 

Am  ah  bannah,  am  ah  flag  ! 

Yes  wees  got  er  flag! 

It's  de  red  !  de  white  !  de  blue  ! 
It's  de  only  one  to  which 

The  niggahs  should  be  true  ! 

Lissun  !  chillun,  lissun  ! 

When  dis  niggah's  in  his  grave, 
Let  dat  dah  ol1  banner 

O'er  dis  niggah  ebbah  wave. 
'Kaze  dat  dah  ol'  banner 

Undah  which  ah  foddahs  fought, 
Am  de  only  banner 

Fo'  to  love  dat  I  was  taught. 

Yes  wees  got  er  flag! 

It's  de  red  !  de  white  !  de  blue  ! 
It's  de  only  one  to  which 

The  niggahs  should  be  trut  5 


HI,  MISTAH  DAHKY. 

Hi,  mistah  dahky  ! 

De  hoein'  time's  er  cumin'  — 

Loafin's  nearly  obeah 

Fo'  er  fiddlin'  an'  er  drummin', 


PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Dancin'  wid  de  ladies 

An'  er  steppin'  lak  er  racer, 

Drinkhr  Tom  an'  Jerry 

An'  sum  burbon  fo'  er  bracer. 

Hi,  mistah  clahky! 

Bin  er  'joicin'  all  de  wintah? 

Spawkin'  'wid  de  ladies 

An'  er  cuttin'  quite  er  splintah  ? 

Dressed  up  lak  er  peacock 

Hyah  all  pawted  in  de  middle, 

Shakein'  lak  er  wilier 

Jes'  er  prancin'  to  de  riddle  ? 

Hi,  mistah  dahky! 

See  de  sun  er  gittin  higher  ? 

Pohin'  down  de  heatin' 

Lak  er  Sodom  an'  Gomire. 

Showers  am  er  fallin' 

An'  de  gawden  craps  er  sproutin'. 

Hi,  mistah  dahky! 

In  yo'  soul  is  yo'  er  doubtin'? 

Hi,  mistah  dahky! 

Mo'  den  singin'  an'  er  prayin', 

De  Mastah  am  requirin' 

In  dis  worrul  while  yo's  er  stayin', 

Spendin'  all  yo'  time 

Shoutin',  knockin'  down  de  benches, 

Beddah  take  mo'  time  fo' 

Hoein',  fixin'  up  yo'  fences, 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  77 

Hi,  mistah  dahky  ! 

Am  de  meadows  lookin'  temptin'  ? 

Lak  er  bed  er  feddahs 

Make  yo'  dream  lak  Israel  kemptin'  ? 

Sympathizin'  wid  yo' 

But  de  fo'ks  is  dun  er  sowirf 

Hi,  mistah  dahky  ! 

Now  de  nex'  thing  am  de  hoein'. 

Hi,  mistah  dahky  ! 

In  yo'  soul  will  yo'  be  singin' 

When  yo'  see  de  millins 

On  de  runnin*  vines  er  clingin'? 

Sugah  co'n  er  tasslin' 

An'  de  punkins  tarnin'  yallah, 

Seasonin'  an'  er  sweetenin' 

Gittin'  meely,  gittin'  mellah. 


DEY'S  ER  COL'  WAVE  BRESHIN'  NIGH. 

Trees  dey  leaves  er  sheddin', 

An'  de  grasses  tarnin'  brown. 
Summah  days  is  obeah, 

An'  de  wintah's  cumin'  roun' 
Lonely  quail  er  callin', 

Wid  er  weary  lonely  sigh, 
Sno'  will  soon  be  falling 

Soon  er  fallin'  fum  de  sky. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Coolsum  is  de  weddah, 

Dey's  er  col'  wave  breshin'  nigh. 
Look  out  fo'  de  wintah, 

Kaze  it's  cumin'  by  an'  by. 
Lissun  at  de  wailin', 

An'  jes'  lissun  at  de  moan, 
Lissun  at  de  sighin' 

Tell  yo'  dat's  de  wintah's  tone. 

Craps  dun  quit  er  sproutin', 

Not  er  millun  's  on  de  vine. 
Haint  er  watah  seedin', 

Not  er  portion  ub  er  rhine. 
Long  time  fo'  to  wait 

Until  de  wintah  leaves  dis  clime, 
Summah  cums  er  totein' 

'Roun'  de  sweet  ol'  millun  time. 

Hain't  no  use  er  kickin' 

Kaze  de  Lawd  is  got  control, 
Makin'  ub  de  weddah 

Eedah  hot  ah  eedah  col'. 
Nebbah  ax  er  pussun, 

Nebbah  no  whah  on  de  spot, 
Wheddah  dey  would  lak  to 

Hab  de  weddah  col'  er  hot. 

So  jes'  well  keep  joggin' 
'Long  er  happy  sort  er  way, 

Crackin'  jokes  er  whislin' 
Till  de  wintah  goes  estray. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  79 

Weddah  doesn't  suit  yo', 

Jes'  well.make  yo'se'f  content. 
Larn  to  'cep'  de  weddah 

Any  sort  er  way  it's  sent. 


FORCE  OF  WORDS. 

Chicken  stew 

Was  all  I  said. 
Made  dat  coon 

Hop  out  o'  bed, 
Butt  his  head 

Ergin  de  wall 
Kooden'  stan' 

De  thing  at  all. 

Jes'  dat  menshun, 

Jes'  dat  talk, 
Made  dat  coon's 

Eyes  white  ez  chawk. 
Looked  eroun' 

An'  licked  his  chops 
Ez  doh  he  hyeahd 

Dey  wings  flopp  !  flopp  ! 

Well,  dem   wurds, 
Dey  struck  dat  coon 

Lak  er  'lectric 
Shock  in  June  ! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Kooden'  sleep 
No  mo'  dat  night, 

Rolled  an'  tossed 
Until  daylight. 


I  TOL'  YO'  SO. 

Playin'  out  dah 

Wid  dat  white  trash 

I  tor  yo'  so. 
Dat  yo'  back 

Wood  git  er  lash  ; 
I  to!'  yo'  so. 
Pay  no  'tenshun 

Whut  I  say, 
Allus  got 

Sum  uddah  way, 
Wished  yo'  haddah, 
P'haps,  sum  day. 
I  tolj  yo'  so. 

Yo'  de  wusses' 
Chile  in  town, 

I  tol*  yo'  so. 
Foll'rin'  all 
De  white  trash  'roun' 
I  tol'  yo'  so. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  8 1 

Aftah  Peedah, 

John  and  Paul, 
Fus'  thing  fightin' 

Wid  'em  all ; 
Den  de  niggah's 

Fus'  to  fall. 

I  tor  yo'  so. 

Licked  de  'lasses 
Off  yo'  bread, 

I  tol'  yo'  so. 
Den  dey  knocked 
Yo'  in  de  head. 

I  tol'  yo'  so. 
Called  yo'  niggah 
Sich  ez  dat 
Said  yo'  hyah 
Wuz  lak  er  mat. 
Umph  !   Dem  white  fo'ks 
Made  yo'  scat. 
I  tol'  yo'  so. 

Umph!    Dey  skaid 
Yo'  mos'  to  def. 
I  tol'  yo'  so. 
Look  ee  dah, 
Yo'  out  o'  bref. 
I  tol'  yo'  so. 


82  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Run  so  fas' 

Dun  los'  yo'  hat, 

Got  no  idea 
Whah  it's  at; 

Gwine  to  whoop 
Yo'  good  fo'  dat. 
I  tor  yo'  so. 


THE  PASSING  OF  NIGHT. 

De  moon's  dun  sneaked 

Clah  out  er  sight, 
De  stars  dun  quit 

Dey  peepin'; 
De  shaddahs  dun  gone 

Stole  erway, 
De  world's  dun  quit 

It's  sleepin'. 

De  hours  dey's  slowly 

Creeped  erlong 
Until  de  world's  in  light 

An'  song; 
De  sun  smiles  on 

Creation's  throng  — 
Er  cross  de  worl' 

Goes  sweeping. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  83 

A  TALE  O'  WOE. 

Manny  am  de  battle 

Dahky's  got  to  fight. 
Ebbry  tarn  he's  makhr 

Trouble's  dah  in  sight. 
Ef  he's  got  de  'liggun 

Puffec'  to  de  spot, 
Hard  to  keep  fum  cussin' 

Losin'  all  he's  got. 

White  fo'ks  got  de  money, 

White  fo'ks  got  de  Ian', 
Doan'  wan'  a  po'  dahky 

Hab  er  place  to  stan'. 
Ef  dey  miss  er  chicken 

Ef  dey  miss  er  goose, 
Fus'  thing-  grab  er  dahky 

Fo'  de  calerboose. 

Long  ez  he's  er  hoein', 

Diggin'  in  de  san', 
Bress  yo'  soul,  say,  mistah, 

He  am  jes'  de  man. 
Let  him  git  de  money 

Cumin'  mos'  too  fas', 
White  fo'ks  git  to  skeemin', 

Say  it  mussen'  las', 


84  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

LULLABY. 

Pickahninny,  Pickahninny, 

Close  yo'  little  eyes. 
Evenin'  am  er  'proachin', 

Tells  yo'  sleep  an'  quit  yo'  cries, 
Mammy's  gwine  to  keep 

All  o'  de  boogahman  erway  — 
Gyahd  her  little  pickahninny 

Till  de  cumin'  day. 

Pickahninny,  pickahninny, 

Sleep  an'  take  yo'  res' ; 
Sleep  wid  all  de  cumfort 

Ub  de  birdies  in  dey  nes'. 
When  de  sun's  dun  sinkin', 

In  de  eas'  begin  to  rise, 
Mammy's  little  pickahninny 

Den  kin  ope'  its  eyes. 

Pickahninny,  pickahninny, 

Mammy's  little  love, 
May  de  gyahdin'  angels 

Hubbah  'roun'  de  fum  erbove. 
Wid  dey  sof'en  sweeten  whispahs 

Keep  de  lull'd  er  sleep, 
While  de  weary  lonely  hours 

Slowly  onward  creep. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Pickahninny,  pickahninny, 

Keep  er  fas'  er  sleep, 
While  'de  weary,  lonely  hours 

Slowly  onward  creep. 
Day  will  soon  be  breaking 

Sun  er  creepin'  'cross  de  skies, 
Mammy's  little  pickahninny 

Den  kin  ope'  its  eyes. 


THE  ECSTASY  OF  UNCLE  JOE. 

Feel  lak  shoutin'  hallelooyah, 
Habben'  got  an'  ache  ner  pain. 

Los'  clat  kahnsahn  roomertism, 
No  mo'  hobblin'  wid  dat  cane. 

Things  look  lak  de  Eden  Gawden, 

Hardly  bleeb  dis  am  mah  se'f. 
Dis  am  bliss  in  ebbry  'ticklah, 

Tickles  mah  ol'  soul  to  def. 

Dat  snake  oil  sho'  did  de  bizzness, 
Geddah  wid  dem  herbs  an'  roots. 

Bress  de  Lawd  !  umph  !  grayshus  Mahstah 
Hardly  stay  in  mah  ol'  boots  ! 

Go  'way,  chillun,  let  yo'  daddy 

Hab  de  place  all  to  hisse'f. 
Kaze  de  ol'  man's  jollyfyin' 

An'  he's  drawin'  bran'  new  bref. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Dis  oF  frame  am  no  mo'  shaky, 
Doh  I  is  mos'  eighty-eight. 

Dem  ol'  jints  am  jes'  ez  soople's 
When  Ise  in  mah  youthfu  state. 

Feel  lak  lay'n  erside  mah  'liggun, 
Once  mo'  dance  de  buck  an'  wing. 

Is  dah  'mong  yo'  doubtin'  Thomas, 
Think  dat  I  kaint  do  dat  thing? 

Oh,  I  ustah  cut  it,  chillun, 

When  ol'  fiddlin'  Peet  was  'roun'. 

Had  all  o'  de  white  an'  brae'  fo'ks 
Beat,  dat  lived  er  bout  de  town. 

An'  yo'  bet  he  was  er  fiddlah, 
Make  yo'  dance  yo'se'f  leg  bowl. 

Played  de  sweetes'  kine  o'  ditties 
Dat  jes'  'joiced  yo'  berry  soul. 

Look  hyeah,  Rastus!  drap  dat  fiddle, 
Doan'  yo'  sot  dat  thing  er  chune. 

Ef  yo'  do,  in  spite  mah  'liggun, 
Make  out  me  er  dancin'  coon. 

See,  de  debbil's  allus  skeemin' 
Fo'  to  make  de  Chris'shuns  sin. 

Usein'  chillun  in  his  bizzness, 
Dat's  de  way  he  takes  to  win. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  8? 

Now,  he  put  it  in  li'l  Rastus 

Fo'  to  git  dat  fiddle  down. 
Tho't  I  kooden'  r'sist  tem'tayshun 

Fo'  to  dance  at  its  ol'  soun'. 

Not  dis  time,  oh,  no  !  Brer  Satan, 

Kin  yo'  make  out  me  er  clown. 
Git  me  dancin,  lose  mah  'liggun 

On  de  las'  day  lose  mah  crown. 

Guess  I  beddah  git  de  Bible, 

Read  de  Mahstah's  bressed  Wurd. 

Leeb  deez  hyeah  mischebus  raskuls, 
Kaze  dey's  sum  de  debil's  herd. 


KEEP  ER  GOIN'. 

Yo'  dat's  in  de  race  o'  life, 

Keep  er  goin'  ! 
Nebah  stop  fo'  little  strife, 

Keep  er  goin'  ! 

Sum  one  kick  yo'  on  de  co'n, 
Nuddah  prick  yo'  wid  er  thorn, 
Toot  loudah  on  yo'  horn, 

Keep  er  goin"! 

Ef  yo,  sortah  lose  de  track, 

Keep  er  goin'  ! 
Doan'  tarn  fool  an'  saunter  back, 

Keep  er  goin'  ! 


88  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Take  no  time  to  ax  an'  'quire, 
Keep  er  headin'  fo'  de  wire. 
Push  out  in  de  mud  an'  mire. 
Keep  er  goin'  ! 

Ef  de  road  leads  'roun'  an'  'roun' 

Keep  er  goin'  ! 
Sumtimes  up  an'  sumtimes  down, 

Keep  er  goin'  ! 

Ef  yo'  fall  an'  crack  yo'  shin, 
Git  up,  koch  yo'  secun'  win'. 
Spruce  up'  try  de  thing  ergin. 

Keep  er  goin'  ! 


CLIMBIN'  UP  DE  HILL. 

Fo'  to  climb  de  hill  o'  fame, 

Bet  it  takes  er  lot  o'  tussel. 
It  takes  er  lot  er  scratchin' 

An'  it  takes  er  lot  er  hus'le. 
It's  now  an'  den  er  slip, 

An'  it's  now  an'  den  er  stumble. 
Ef  yo'  'spec'  to  reach  de  summit 

Yo'  mus'  keep*  on  meek  an'  humble. 

Ez  yo'  climin'  up  de  hill, 

Yo'  will  git  er  lot  er  clubbin', 

Yo'll  git  er  lot  er  knockin', 

An'  yo'll  git  er  lot  er  drubbin'  ! 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  89 

Now  an'  den  yo'll  mope, 

Den  ergin  yo'll  be  er  creepin'. 
Yo'll  git  so  tiad  an'  weary, 

Wan'  to  res'  an'  go  to  sleepin'. 

Ez  yo'  climin'  fo'  de  prize, 

Yo'  mus'  do  er  lot  o'  scramble, 
Yo'll  run  into  de  briars, 

An'  yo'll  strike  er  lot  o'  bramble. 
Yo'll  fine  er  lot  o'  thorns 

'Stead  er  findin'  lots  o'  roses. 
Keep  er  headin'  fo'  de  summit, 

Dah  is  whah  success  reposes. 

Yo'  mussen'  spec'  er  crown 

Fus'  widdout  sum  tribyoolayshun, 
Kaze  dat's  de  rule  o'  ordah 

Fo'  de  white  an'  brackes'  nation. 
Yo'  kno'  it's  sumtimes  up, 

Den  ergin  it's  in  de  valley, 
Den  ergin  yo'  go  er  scootin' 

Towards  de  goal  yo'  go  er  sally. 

Yo'  run  on  fo'  er  spell, 

Den  ergin  yo'  git  to  slippin', 
Yo'  now  an'  den'll  reel, 

Git  to  trippin'  an'  er  tippin', 
But  lak  de  ship  o'  Zion, 

When  de  waves  it  am  er  dashin' 
Yo'  ride  right  th'ew  de  storm, 

In  de  harbor  cum  er  splashin'. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

SISTAH   RUFFLE. 

No  use  tawkin',  sistah  Ruffle 
Am  a  gittin'  out  de  kinks; 
Gittin'  up  to  date  in  fashun, 
She  out-dresses  sistah  Jinks ; 
Got  a  bran  new  dress  o'  satin, 
Wid  a  hot  stuff  ruffl'd  skirt; 
Way  she's  lookin'  ebry  dahky 
At  her  grinn'd  an'  tried  to  flirt 

An'  she's  gone  an'  got  a  mobeel 

Cumin'  down  klah  to  her  feet ; 

One  dem  silks  trimm'd  in  white  kawdin' 

It's  a  stunnah,  kain't  be  beet; 

An'  her  hat,  oh  goodness  grashus ! 

Lak  a  flowah  bed  o'  bloom ; 

An'  she  fewmigate  de  breezes, 

Wid  de  sweetes'  kine  o'  'fewme. 

Oh,  yo'  know  ol'  sistah  Ruffle, 
Ustah  wash  erbout  de  town ; 
Had  a  husbahn  dat  was  leg-bowl, 
Jes'  as  ugly  as  a  clown; 
Yes  de  ol'  gal  wo'  de  goggles, 
Hobblin'  'roun'  wid  roomotick, 
Diden'  hab  'em  on  dat  'kayshun, 
She  was  flouncin'  double  quick. 

Doan'  yo'  know,  she  am  bawlhaided, 
But  dat  dey  she  wo'  er  wig; 


$LANTATION    ECHOES. 

Dog  mah  cats  ef  yo'  kood  tell  it, 
Ef  yo'  could 'I'd  dance'd  a  jig; 
Twasn't  made  fum  hyah  dat's  kinky, 
But  fum  dat  call'd  awbun  hyah; 
Looks  so  poody  slick,  an'  wabey, 
Kine  yo'  see  de  white  fo'ks  wah. 

Had  it  done  an1  rolFd  in  ribbon, 
On  de  pompydoro  style ; 
Had  deez  great  big  whut  yo'  call  'em 
Hyahpins  yais  yo'  right  mah  chile ; 
At  de  sides  she  lef  it  bushy 
Fo'  to  kibbah  up  her  yeahs ; 
Kose  she  seed  de  white  fo'ks  do  it 
Fo'  de  las'  free  o'  fo'  yeahs. 

Yais,  she  had  on  glasses,  go  'way ! 
Dem  dat  habs  de  gol'en  rim 
An'  a  chain  wuz  fas'en  to  'em, 
Cumin'  down  beneef  her  chin ; 
An'  her  bowkey,  go'  way  honey ! 
It  wahs  flowahs  o'  all  kine, 
Oh,  it  look'd  mos'  loud  an'  spickyus, 
Wish'd  de  lawd  it  had  bin  mine. 

Oddah  seed  her  when  she  pass'd  us, 
Thow'd  her  head  clah  to  de  cloud ; 
Switch'd  her  se'f  an'  kooden'  see  us, 
Kaze  she's  togg'd  up  mos'  to  loud ; 
Now  an'  den  shed'  gib  us,  honey, 
Whut  yo'  call  de  cake  wa'k  gran', 


PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

An'  her  big  feet  cut  no  figgah ; 
Was'  she  right?  she  beet  de  ban'. 

When  she'd  pass  sto'  windahs,  honey, 
She'd  size  up  her  se'f  an'  smile ; 
Twis'  her-se'f  an'  lif  her  trailah, 
Cose  she  tho'wt  she's  poody,  chile ; 
Why,  I  know'd  dat  dah  ol'  dahky 
When  she  haden'  braid  to  eat ; 
When  it  cum  to  shoes  an'  sockin's, 
Dey  was  stranjahs  to  her  feet. 

Now  she  needn't  be  o'  spreadin' 
On  befo'  me  any  ahs, 
Kaze  de  Lawd  in  heaben  knows  it, 
Dat  I  'bout  her  doesn't  kyahs ; 
She  jes'  lately  got  a  penshun, 
An'  it's  sortah  swell'd  her  haid, 
It's  a  wondah  diden'  bus'  it, 
An'  de  dahky  isn't  daid. 

Doan'  yo'  'membah  when  she  usetah 
Wah  dat  bumzeen  yallah  dress? 
Whah  she's  gwine  to  git  de  nex'  one, 
Keep'  her  allus  on  de  guess ; 
Whut  I  say  a  'bout  sum  dahkies, 
Ef  dey  git  a  rag  er  to, 
'Speshly  dems  po'  as  Jobe's  tukehy, 
Dey'll  wa'k  obah  me  an'  yo'. 

I  jes'  feed  dem  kine  o'  dahkies, 
Wid  er  big  long  hanel  spoon ; 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  93 


Bet  dey  needen'  take  dis  sistah, 
Fo'  er  hankshef  haided  coon; 
Kaze  it's  bawn  in  all  ah  kin  fo'ks, 
To  be  stylish  an'  be  proud, 
Nebbah  habs  dis  lady,  honey, 
To  sech  dahkies  ebah  bow'd. 


THE  GALLANT  LACKS  OF 
SAN  JUAN  HILL. 

Without  a  tremor  or  a  pause, 

Enlisted  for  their  country's  cause, 

'Mid  shout  and  song  the  gallant  boys 
Charge  up  the  hill  of  San  Juan. 

Like  war-scarred  veterans.  of  old, 
Made  with  patriot  ardor  bold, 

Press  they  forward  towards  the  goal, 
Not  a  soldier  falters. 

Blood  and  carnage  everywhere, 

Detonations  rend  the  air, 
Not  for  once  do  they  despair, 

But  press  on  to  conquer. 

See  them  charge  with  matchless  splendor 
Heart  to  heart  each  one's  defender, 

All  praise  for  the  part  they  render, 
For  them  is  the  victory. 


94  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

See  the  starry  emblem  high ; 

This  they'll  keep  or  all  will  die. 
Forward !     Is  their  battle  cry, 

See  them  still  advancing. 

Hell  of  fire  'tis  their's  to  greet. 

Comrades  falling  at  their  feet, 
Still  for  them  to  fight  'tis  sweet; 

See  them  still  advancing! 

See  the  foe's  ranks  try  to  rally, 

Thank  God !     They've  made  their  last  tally. 
Ne'er  again  will  they  forth  sally, 

Lost  their  hopes  forever  h 
Another  charge !    They  reach  the  summit, 

And  the  prize  at  last  they've  won  it, 
Fighting  ev'ry  inch  they've  done  it, 

Vic'try  on  their  banner. 

Columbia,  thou  hast  won  the  day, 

Tribute  on  the  altar  lay. 
Plaudits  to  those  brave  boys  pay, 

They  thy  brave  defenders. 

Heaven  swing  thy  gates  a-wide, 

Forever  in  thy  walls  abide, 
Let  those  who  so  nobly  died, 

Be  this,  their  reward. 


PLANTATION    ECHOES.  95 

In  the  starry  firmament, 

Thou  bright  gem  of  government, 
Brightest  in  the  firmament, 

Still  thy  encircling  light. 

As  a  beacon  and  a  sign, 

To  oppressed  men  ever  shine, 
Till  on  this  terrestrial  ball, 

God  shall  end  the  reign  of  all. 


DE  GOOD  OL'  TIMES  RENEW. 

It's  plumpin'  ub  de  banjos 

An'  saw'n'  de  fiddles  too, 
Jes'  shake  yo'  foots  ye  dahkys, 

De  good  ol'  times  renew  ! 
We'll  geddah  'roun'  de  cabin, 

An'  while  de  ditties  chune, 
We'll  swing  de  gals  tergeddah, 

In  de  sof  light  ub  de  moon. 

Den  it's 

Swing  Miss  Lissy  Johnson, 

Miss  Jane  an'  Liza  too  ! 
Jes'  shake  yo'  foots,  ye  dahkys 

De  good  ol'  times  renew. 

Way  down  in  ol'  Virginny, 
In  de  ol'  plantation  day, 


96  PLANTATION    ECHOES. 

Befo'  we  los'  ah  suple, 
Befo'  we  got  so  gray, 

We  use  to  dance  fum  sun-down, 
Till  de  stars  dimmed  in  de  sky, 

An'  nebah  feel  er  stiffness 
Ner  an'  achin'  in  de  thigh. 

Den  it's 

Swing  Miss  Lissy  Johnson, 

Miss  Jane  an'  Liza  too! 
Jes'  shake  yo'  foots  ye  dahkys 

De  good  ol'  times  renew ! 

When  Missy  an'  ol'  massa, 

Wood  tote  erway  to  res', 
We'd  git  ah  dudds  an'  toggins 

An'  dress  up  in  ah  bes', 
We'd  huddle  all  tergeddah 

An'  slip  outside  de  do', 
I  wish  to  gracious  mastah, 

Yo'  den  kood  see  us  go. 

Den  it's 

Swing  Miss  Lissy  Johnson, 

Miss  Jane  an'  Liza  too! 
Jes'  shake  yo'  foots  ye  dahkys 

De  good  ol'  limes  renew! 


PS  55/5 

^ 

£  55  P5" 


